Safe & Sound//Sebastian Sallow

forty-three.

Sebastian's depression engulfed him over the next couple of days. He stayed in bed for most of his time and only came out for a little while to eat. It was heartbreaking to see. I did my best to try and lighten the mood, but to no avail.

"Sebastian, you've gotta get out of bed. Please," I begged. He was really worrying me. I opened the curtains in the room to let the sun in. Sebastian groaned and turned away from the light. "Is this how you're going to be every time Emery leaves," I finally asked. I'd been avoiding the question, but I couldn't hold it in any longer.

"So what it is," Sebastian asked, sounding grumpy.

"We both know he wouldn't like that. He loves you and would want you to be happy. Do you think he'd feel good knowing how upset you are right now?"

"He's not here, so he doesn't have to know."

"You know what I mean, Sebastian." I waited for a reply, but didn't get one. Frustrated, I left the room.

I did my best to keep busy while Sebastian sulked in the bedroom, but there was only so much cleaning I could do. I tried reading a book, but I was too preoccupied with my thoughts to really pay attention. The sun eventually started to set and I was bored out of my mind with no clue what to do.

"Sebastian," I began as I walked into the bedroom. "Wake up."

"I'm awake," he replied from under the covers.

"Good. I've been trying to be nice, but this is getting out of hand. You've been sulking for days and I've been doing my best to be understanding, but enough is enough. You're going to get up, we're going to get out of this house, and we're going to have a nice fucking evening, got it?"

"Can't you just let me be?"

"You're being ridiculous," I snapped. "It's not like we're not going to see Emery ever again! He's coming back for his birthday in less than three weeks, for Merlin's sake! Do you really expect me to be okay with you wallowing in self-pity that long?"

"You don't get it. He's not your son," he retorted. My breath caught in my throat and I felt like I'd been sucker-punched. How could Sebastian expect me to love that little boy as if he were my own and then throw it in my face that he wasn't? Especially when he knew Emery was the closest thing I'd ever have to my own child.

"Fuck you, Sebastian," I said, tears filling my eyes. I quickly grabbed some clothes from my dresser drawer and shoved them in a bag. Without another word, I stormed out of the room and left the house.

My body was on autopilot as I marched up the lane to the Floo Powder location. I didn't even register where I'd said I was going until I recognized a shop that was a couple of blocks from Ominis' house. I wiped away the tears that had started falling freely as I hurried the rest of the way to my best friend. I just hoped he was actually home and not still staying with Imelda.

"Ominis," I called as I knocked on his door. "Ominis, it's Althea." Please be home my thoughts pleaded. I continued to knock frantically until the door finally opened.

"Althea, what the hell," Ominis asked once the door was all the way open.

"Can I come in," I cried.

"Of course. What's wrong?" Ominis stepped aside and let me in. I dropped my bag in the foyer and put my head in my hands.

"I walked out on Sebastian," I told him.

"What do you mean? Like for good?"

"No, of course not! At least I don't think so. We got in a fight and he said something really hurtful, so I left."