The Girl

THREE: OF MOONS, BIRDS, AND MONSTERS

"Are you mad at your walls or hoping that an unknown force can repair things for you? Pardon all the time that you've thrown into your pale grey garden? If the ship will never come you've got to move along..."

SONG: OF MOONS, BIRDS, AND MONSTERS
ARTIST: MGMT

Ben had come to pick me up. The building I was standing in front of was a sickly green, kind of reminded me how I felt whenever I entered it. The lettering was brown, distracting from the color of the building so that people read, Newhall Medical Center. My therapist was the only reason I could tolerate having to come here three times a week.

"I'm taking you out for a drink," My brother spoke without making sure that I even wanted to go. Though, it made me feel better that he didn't talk to me in a patronizing kind of voice--like Jack did all the time. "You look like you could use a drink."

"I'm nineteen," I reminded him and sighed softly. He knew the bar's owner, he could get whoever he wanted drunk. "Why are we going to drink so early in the day?"

"Little brother, I'm not an idiot," He spoke and tapped his fingers against the steering wheel. "You have to take care of the shop and I have to help Celeste with unload tables. I'll pick you up after."

I nodded my head and licked my lips. We were silent for the rest of the ride, (except for Ben's occasional belt of notes to whatever song was playing on JACK FM). When I got the shop, immediately, I recognized the girl from three days ago. She was standing with a boy, near the front window.

"I'll see you later," I told him and pushed out of the car, closing the door behind me. I stuck my hands in my pockets and used my back to push open the door. She looked at me and waved. I nodded my head in her direction.

"Right, so Celeste called me and told me that she wants us to perform?" Calum walked out from the back as soon as he saw me walk in. "Are we ready for that?"

"I guess," I shrugged. "I'm okay to sing and play."

I glanced at her as she laughed and laid her head on the boy's shoulder. I pressed my lips together and turned to Calum. He nodded his head slowly and lifting himself to sit on the counter.

"Right," Calum ran his fingers through his hair. "I'll call the boys and we can set up a set list. Do you want me to set you up an alarm?"

"No, just tell me the time and I'll be there," I assured him and scratched the back of my neck and then ran my hand over my unshaven cheek. "She died three years ago, not yesterday."

The words hurt leaving my mouth. They stung even as I thought about her and her last few days. How rare and random that a woman as healthy as her had gotten cancer. The thought of it made my stomach hurt.

Sure, I wasn't completely over it, but I could live. I was trying to live. Everyone just needed to stop treating me like the sixteen year old boy who lost his mom.

"We'll see you at Michael's house then?"

I nodded and watched him leave the place while I went out in the back to write a new song. Something Celeste and Jack would appreciate. Or I could skip the homework and just choose a song that they both liked.

It would save time and emotional effort.

"Luke," One of the employees knocked on the door, leaning his shoulder against the door. "Some girl is asking for you at the desk. Didn't give a name, just asked for you."

I nodded and squeezed past him, finding the purple and blue haired girl standing alone this time. She had a few CDs laid out on the counter, her hands adjusting her nose ring as she stuck one hand in the pocket of her denim jacket.