Among the stars, YOU MY MOON

At the shop I thought of you

 I step out of my weathered red Ford truck. The air smells of freshly turned earth and distant rain. This antique shop  aight my eye.I just picked up some supplies for the broken gate.

The old gentleman behind the counter beckons me inside.

"Welcome," he says, his voice a low rumble. "Looking for something special?"

"Just looking" i say smiling.

My eyes scan the shelves, and there it is—a delicate horse necklace, silver and gleaming. It catches the light, and suddenly, I'm thinking of Ava. She's back at the farm all alone.  Her 19th birthday is approaching, and this necklace would be perfect for her.

I reach for it, the metal cool against my palm. The old man nods knowingly. "For someone special, eh?"

I nod back, my mind already on the journey back home. But fate has other plans. As I drive, the Ford truck lurches, wheels spinning in the mud. No signal out here, and I'm alone. Ava's face flashes before me—worried, waiting. I wrestle with the engine, dirt under my fingernails, and wonder if she's okay.

The Ford truck groans, its tires sinking deeper into the mud. I wipe sweat from my brow, frustration mounting. Ava's face flashes before me—her eyes, the color of storm clouds, filled with worry. She's waiting back at the farm, in pain and alone.

I dig my hands into the dirt, trying to free the wheels. The necklace in my pocket presses against my thigh—a promise, a birthday gift for Ava. But right now, it's just a weight, a reminder of how far I am from her.

The sun dips lower, casting long shadows across the road. I glance at my phone, no signal. Ava's probably tried calling, wondering where I am. I curse the truck, curse the road, curse everything that keeps me from her.

Finally, with a grunt I decide to walk.

Two hours since I left the car and here I am out of breath at the front door of the farmhouse.

I push over the door to find Peter  and Ava both standing. They look upset.

"Ethen" Ava says through clenched teeth.

"Guys whats goi-"

"Someone here tried to..." I see her flush red. "Just tell him to get the hell out! He wont listen to me"

"What the heck did you-"

"Bye guys" Peter snorts and pushes past me.

"You not going nowhere!" I say grabbing his arm.

"Get lost!" he says snatching his arm away.He flies through the door and slams the door behind him

"Ethen no!" I stop at the door

"What?" I snap

"His fired anyways"

"Fired? What?"

"I'll tell you what happened but you promise me okay? You promise you wont goand fight him?"

"He depe-"

"You promise me?"

I sigh

"Okay"

"Why you came so late?" Ava asks  sitting on the bed.

"Ava" I say my hands fisted. "What did he do?"

She looks down at her lap.

"Ava" I say almost sternly 

"E-boy" Ava says, her voice soft as rustling leaves. 

 Ava grabs a pillow and shoves her face into pillow. I don't even think twice and  sit next to her and wrap my arms around her my chin resting on her back.

"Hey com'n" I say."What happend?"

"What?" She say sitting up her a exaggerated frown on her face.

"What did he do?"

"No ..." she shakes her head and looks away from me. "We should just head home"

"What?" I say biting my lower lip

 I put my hand on her shoulder. "We not goi-" 

"He tried to kiss me."

I stand up my heart starts beating fast and i can feel my blood boil. Peter had crossed every boundary. "What?" I clench my jaw.

Ava grabs my hand and pulls me back.

"He'll be gone by tomorrow"

"But-"

"Its late lets go sleep"

I stare at her.

"Ava-"

"Beep!" she says tipping my nose.

I lock my eyes with her chocolatey brown ones. They sparkle like the stars and her lips are pink like.

"Ethen" She clicks her fingers infront of me.

"What?"

"Can you stop staring at me like that?"

"like what?"

I shake my head.

"Good night" I slip down onto the mattress and tuck in.

"Good night" Ava chirps before switching of the lights.