The Unlikely Resident of Room 313

Chapter 10

He watched her, mesmerized.

The way her dark hair cascaded along her shoulders, bouncing when she laughed. How she managed to look so vibrant with every step she took. Towards him. Past him. Through him. The curve of her lips when she smiled sent a shiver through him. And her eyes... He wanted to harvest the light that danced in her earth-colored irises and compare it to every star he saw.

She spoke to a woman in a white coat he'd seen before. He didn't know the woman's name, nor did he care to know it. He'd sensed the woman on campus for years. Her light was dim and dull and dying compared to the radiant star that sat before her.

The woman motioned to her leg. They were in a small, sterile white room and everything was too bright. He hated this light. It was artificial and coarse and hurt so much. He could endure—for her. Even if it made him bleed darkness. "Everything looks good on the clinical end, Asteria. You're more than welcome to ditch the air cast and crutches if you'd like."

"Oh, thank God!" she laughed and another shiver raced through him. He loved the way the sound made him feel. "I don't think I could last another week with those things."

"I don't want you doing any strenuous physical activity until the end of the week. That means no heavy lifting, running, high heels or cartwheels. Continue to ice your ankle at the end of the day. And make an appointment if anything starts to hurt again."

Asteria nodded and the light surrounding her glimmered golden under the harsh, cold lights above them. He loved how warm the light felt. He loved the way she called for him in those moments of joy. It was like a siren's song made just for him.

Come to me, she would say. Let me remind you how it feels to be whole again.

But as always, the moment he stepped towards her, she stopped him. She pulled away and closed herself off with a sweet smile. At first, he thought it was a mistake. But she did it again and again and again. What kind of game was she playing? Why would she taunt him when she knew how cold and empty he felt?

It made him angry. He didn't mean to get so angry. He didn't mean to push her off of her bed. He tried to help her, but she pushed him away. And then he came. Who did he think he was?

"Is there anything I can help you with today?" the woman asked.

"No, Dr. Leu, thank you."

So polite. So beautiful. So shiny. So warm. He smiled. He remembered how to smile around her. He watched them exchange a few more words before she left. He followed the smooth planes of her olive-toned legs as she walked away. From him. Towards him. He couldn't look away. He didn't want to look away.

Asteria. Goddess of falling stars.

Goddess of people like him.

She would be his.

* * *

I checked on Melody soon after Roy left. She laid in bed, fast asleep. It looked like someone tucked her into bed. I wondered if someone did.

Roy didn't return that night. I fell asleep on a makeshift heap on the floor, too exhausted to be afraid of the dark now that I knew what lurked in it. And when I woke the next morning, my head hurt and my mouth tasted sour. It felt like a nasty hangover. Except the spirits in this case were quite literal.

Melody appeared completely unbothered by the whole ordeal. Maybe Roy had a way of making her forget it ever happened. Maybe I dreamt the whole thing. She didn't say a word about our ghostly encounter at breakfast Sunday morning, or when we went to the library to study the following evening. By Tuesday afternoon, I was dying to ask her about it.