Celestial: Fallen

Chapter 44- Unspoken Promises

I tried to focus on getting ready for university, but my mind kept wandering. Today marked a shift. My parents, Grae, and Michael were finally heading home, leaving me to stay with Josh. It felt strange imagining life without Nick around, but I knew I had to manage until he came back.

When Michael first offered to stay with me, I turned him down. "You don't have to, Michael. I can move in with Josh for now. It's not a big deal," I told him, trying to sound more confident than I felt.

He looked at me for a moment, hesitating. "I do need to get back. There are things I need to handle," he said, almost reluctantly. I could sense the internal struggle behind his calm words—he didn't want to leave, but his responsibilities were calling him.

Mom and Dad spoke with Josh's mom, who, because of her frequent travels, had no problem with me moving in. Josh and I were both thrilled by the idea, but deep down, I knew we were just holding onto the apartment for Nick's return. The uncertainty of it all weighed on me more than I wanted to admit.

Later tonight, my parents and Michael would help me settle into Josh's place before they left. It felt like the beginning of a new chapter, yet a lingering unease clung to me. Nick's absence was like a shadow I couldn't shake.

"Arwen, you're going to be late, and you haven't even had breakfast!" Mom called from the kitchen, her voice jolting me out of my thoughts. I glanced at my watch, groaning internally.

"Coming!" I muttered, grabbing my bag, making sure Azrael's journal was tucked safely inside. That journal... it felt like a lifeline lately, one of the few things grounding me amidst all the changes.

Stepping out of my room, I saw Papa feeding Grae at the table. He gave me his usual warm smile, gesturing towards the pancakes on the counter.

"Where's Michael?" I asked, grabbing a pancake and taking a quick bite on the go, earning a disapproving look from Mom. I gave her a quick, apologetic smile, knowing how much she hated when I rushed through meals.

"He's in the garage, waiting for you," Papa replied, his tone casual, though I could tell he was watching me closely. Grae, grinning with his gap-toothed smile, looked up at me with eyes so full of innocence it made my heart ache.

I bent down and kissed his forehead. "Be good, okay?" I whispered.

"Ar-in!" Grae chirped back with a mouthful of food, and I couldn't help but laugh.

Mom sipped her coffee, her voice soft but concerned. "You sure you've packed everything you need?"

"Yeah, just the essentials," I replied. "I'll be back with Josh and Leroy every week, so it's not like I'm disappearing." I stuffed the rest of the pancake into my mouth, quickly kissed them all goodbye, and hurried out the door.

Michael was leaning against the side of the car, arms crossed, waiting with a calm patience that made me feel both grateful and guilty. He had that quiet, watchful presence that always seemed to know more than he let on.

"Ready?" he asked, raising an eyebrow as I jogged up to him, slightly out of breath.

"Ready as I'll ever be," I said, trying to sound lighthearted, though I wasn't sure I believed it.

Michael gave me a soft smile, but there was something behind it—something deeper. Worry, maybe. He could always read me better than I could read myself.

"You know," he started, his voice quieter than usual, "you don't have to be so strong all the time."

I blinked, caught off guard by the shift in his tone. "I'm fine," I responded quickly. Too quickly. "Moving to Josh's is no big deal. It's just temporary."