Promise Me (Lucaya)

F o u r t e e n

Riley's POV
I try to talk to Maya as much as possible. She is there...but she's not there. It's been a few days since Lucas died. Lucas' funeral is going to be in 2 days. I hope Maya will be alright.

"Hey Maya, wanna play a board game or something?"

"I'm ok, I'm just really tired."

I know she's not.

"Oh ok, wanna just watch a movie? We could just sit on the couch and-"

"Riles I'm just not feeling it today, ok?"

"Ok..."

Maya's POV
I just want to be left alone. I hate to cry in public, I thought I would just start to get a handle on my feelings but I keep getting worse. I feel everything now, I feel sad, angry, helpless...I feel alone. Riley is here with me but I don't want to be a burden to her.

I was left alone in my room. I walked over to Lucas' closet. His scent filled the room as I ran my fingers through the clothing. A tear trickled down my face as I collapsed on the ground crying with my face in my palms.

"Why did you leave!?" I looked up to the ceiling hoping Lucas can hear me.

"I want you back! I need you! I didn't get a chance to say goodbye!"

"Maya?"

I turned my head to see Riley standing in the doorway to the closet.

"He promised he would come back! He promised me!" I sobbed

Riley sat down next to me while pulling me into a hug.

"Maya, sometimes things like this happen for a reason. We are given things we can handle and you WILL get through this."

"How? He's gone, Riley. And he's never coming back and I just wish-" My lower lip quivered and hot tears blurred my vision.

"I know, I know Maya."

"I miss him." I swallow the lump in my throat and feel the need to cry, but my head hurt from crying so much already.

"Don't leave me Riley, ok?" I sniffled, wiping my puffy eyes and saw my reflection in the mirror: tangled blonde messy hair, flushed cheeks and red eyes. I looked awful.

"Maya. Your safe place is me. I'm still here. I'm not going anywhere."

"Riley?" I asked after a long moment of silence.

"Yeah?" Riley whispered.

"Nothing, I just wanted to know if you were still here."