In the Melancholy Moonlight, Part 5: Dark Matter

Chapter 279: The Mystery of Love

A/N: Well, hi there! I didn't think I'd be returning on a random day in July, and I doubt any of you saw this coming either, but, well, here I am. I hope you all enjoy.

First of all, I'm so sorry. When I wrote my author's note in December, I never dreamed this year would go the way it's gone, for better as well as for worse. It's been... a lot of worse. To make a very long story very short, I am now working full-time, and I may or may not have a serious genetic disorder! In summary: I started a new job in February. I then finally got good health insurance. I then found myself in the ER right before my birthday and everyone there was like "Hey so we think you have this rare genetic condition, a severe case of it, too, looks like, how has no one mentioned it before?" so that was. Yeah. That was difficult. Now I'm sitting around waiting for a bunch of tests and test results to determine what my future looks like. This chapter is the first step in a good direction for me, I hope, as I try to find a better balance between work and home and life and, well, the ongoing existential crisis.

Second of all, I have actually been writing since December! It's not done quiiiite yet, there are still two or three chapters to go, but if you're a fan of Andrew Garfield's Spider-Man, feel free to check out because I have really enjoyed writing it and I do hope to finish it soon! It's basically just a Cass Williams AU where she's Carter's sister and she's dating Spider-Man. Oh and she has invisibility powers.

Third of all, I still have no idea what my update schedule is going to look like moving forward. Again, I am working full-time and I love my job very much, it's so fulfilling and I work with amazing people who make me look forward to showing up to work every day, but the work I do draining physically and mentally, so I really only have time to write on weekends. That said, I miss Lucy so much, y'all. 😭 I promise I'll get Chapter 280 out as soon as possible. By Harry's birthday, if nothing else.

Fourth of all, thank you for still being here. And for still reading this note, if you've read this far. Thank you for caring about this story, about me, thank you for always coming back even when my life gets in the way. Thank you for your endless patience and kindness. I promise I will finish this story, I promise I promise I promise I promise.

Without any further ado, Claire Everlin!

🩵💛❤️💜🩷

CLAIRE:

"Have you ever been in an earthquake?"

From where I was sitting on the floor beside Isabella's bed, I had to contort my body quite a bit to meet her eyes. "Yeah, I have. There was a big one in '94. The epicenter was less than 20 miles from my house. Why do you ask?"

"I'm thinking earthquakes could be an interesting topic, but I didn't want to suggest it if..."

"If it hit a little close to home?" I finished for her with a crooked grin.

Isabella's tan face flushed maroon. "You always choose the worst possible phrases, but yes."

"Well, I personally think it would be fun to do our project on earthquakes," I said. In geology, we had to choose partners and write about the natural disaster of our choosing. We had been working for about ten minutes, trying to figure out which natural disaster was most interesting to both of us, when she'd asked about earthquakes out of the blue. "I think all of the other groups are doing more, shall we say, distant natural disasters, like volcanic eruptions and tsunamis. Nothing that could ever happen here, in Davis. I think most people hate thinking about the ways life as they know it can change without rhyme or reason."

"Or, in the case of earthquakes, without warning," Isabella added. "At least hurricanes have warnings. Tornadoes have sirens. Storms can be forecast. Even with wildfires, you know the risk every day based on the conditions. Earthquakes, though, they're the definition of unpredictable." She bit her lip. "What happened in '94? If you don't mind my asking?"