DOG DAYS ✶ Boone

[ 003. ] THE SOUND OF YOUR VOICE

˖ ᡣ𐭩 ⊹ ࣪ ౨ৎ˚₊
chapter THREE     ╱     THE SOUND OF YOUR VOICE

   Theo dreaded the hours spent in the company of Kate and Javi.

   Theodora was consumed by a deep-seated frustration every time she found herself amidst their stories. Their conversation was an unending reverie of past escapades, a chronicle of shared experiences and adventures that forever eluded her grasp. Each story they told, every memory they recounted, was a cruel reminder of her exclusion. Their laughter, their camaraderie, seemed to mock her own fears and missed opportunities, stirring a sense of longing and inadequacy that gnawed at her insides.

   "Haven't we stayed here before?" Javi's voice cut through her thoughts as they neared the worn-out motel that would serve as their refuge for the night.

   "Yeah, Javi," Kate replied with a nostalgic chuckle. "We've stayed in every motel in Oklahoma."

   Their shared laughter was a familiar melody that Theo could never quite harmonize with, and she tightened her arms around her torso, lagging slightly behind them. The warmth of their connection seemed almost palpable, a stark contrast to the cold distance she felt.

   "Remember when we used to have Addy check us in?" Javi's voice softened with fondness. "And then we'd all sneak into the room to save each of us ten bucks?"

   Theo's thoughts drifted to Addy, a beacon of kindness within their group. Addy had always been the one to bridge the gap between Theo and the rest, treating her with an affection that made her feel like she belonged. They had shared a bond, their laughter and conversation flowing with ease, unlike the strained interactions she experienced now.

   "We'd have Addy────" Javi's voice was tinged with a nostalgic mirth. "We'd have Addy do it because she looked so sweet." Kate's laughter, while genuine, seemed to underline the chasm that separated Theodora from their shared history. Theo had to agree, Addy's sweetness had always been undeniable, a sharp contrast to the harsh reality of her own exclusion.

   As they drew closer to the motel's faded façade, Javi turned to Kate with a hopeful glimmer in his eye. "Hey, you want to hang out later? I'll just head into the room for a quick shower, and then we can meet up."

   Theo could sense the desperation in Javi's voice, an unspoken plea for connection that seemed to cling to the air.

   "I'm, uh, I'm really tired," Kate replied slowly, her voice laced with gentle reluctance. "But maybe another time?"

   "Yeah, alright," Javi responded with a resigned nod, his shoulders slumping slightly. "Goodnight."

   "Goodnight," Kate said with a soft smile before she turned to Theo. "You coming?"

   It was the first acknowledgment of the evening that Theo had received, a small gesture of inclusion that offered little comfort. Since they were sharing a room, Theo had no choice but to follow.

   "It's good to have you back," Javi's voice carried a tinge of melancholy as he watched the sisters walk away, his gaze lingering on their retreating figures.

   "I'm not back," Kate's words were firm, a clear boundary drawn in the sand.

   "I remember," Javi said with a shrug, the wistfulness in his tone undeniable. "One week."

   Theo and Kate left Javi to wander off on his own as they made their way up the narrow, creaking stairs to their room. The dusky light of the evening cast long shadows against the motel walls, and the distant hum of cicadas filled the air with a steady, rhythmic drone. Just before they reached the top, a familiar voice cut through the tranquil murmur of the night.