The Moth

Chapter Forty-One: Rooftops// Just A Friend

Chapter Forty-One: Rooftops// Just A Friend

I didn't see her for days after the day we got coffee. Three weeks. I went and sat by the window every night, hoping she'd come along again. Thinking I'd hear her soft giggle behind me and turn to watch her glide across the rooftops. Carefully carefree. Hops and skips taken only after she knew she'd land correctly. Spins done gracefully enough you'd miss the way her toes turned white from how hard she gripped the rooftop tiles. After months spent under the night sky, I saw how she seemed to skirt death, but hung on tightly enough that she'd never go near it.

A small pit formed in my stomach. What if she was gone for good this time. What if she didn't return.

I called her a couple of times during the day, knowing she may not even have paid her phone bill for the month. I wondered why I never bothered asking her where she lived.

At night, I sat watching the stars until my eyes closed. She never showed.

Three weeks. Rivulets of water ran down my face and into my eyes some days, and I tasted salt when I ran my tongue over my lips. Other days, I shivered and my fingers went numb. Three weeks.

And then she appeared again. Just like that.

I opened my window one day, climbing out and nearly falling over when I noticed a silhouette a few feet from me. She didn't turn towards me when I greeted her, simply nodding her head instead. A scarf was wrapped around her neck, neatly tucked into her jacket. It wasn't that cold out today. It was the second week of April. Sitting down next to her, I cleared my throat.

"I missed you."

"Hm."

"...Where were you?"

She didn't answer.

"I mean, if you don't mind me asking. You don't have to..."

She turned to me, eyes sunken and dull with purple moons stamped under them.

"...answer." I pushed her hair out of her face, taking in her appearance. "My God, what happened to you? You look...did you lose weight? You haven't been sleeping, clearly. What's going on?"

She leaned her head back against the wall, smiling slightly as she closed her eyes. "I missed you," she said, raising her head and looking at me again.

"What's wrong, babe?"

She flicked her eyes towards me in surprise, then sighed, rubbing her eyes.

"Dad's not been home in weeks." She clicked her tongue. "I tried calling home last month and it didn't even ring so I went there. When I opened the door, the...stench of rotten food hit me hard. That, and Aaron wasn't responding. I ran around calling him until I heard a knock on the door. It was Ms.Jenkins...the lady I told you I used to work for?"

I nodded.

"She saw me walking home and came over. She'd been watching Aaron for the past week and a half."

Her eyes welled up and she curled up, lowering her head onto her knees. I slid my hand over hers.

"He's okay then, right?"

She nodded, biting her lip. "But I have no idea where Dad is. He's not answer his phone, nor is he coming home at all. I just...ugh."

She shifted, clearing her throat. "It's just...I can't. I can't...Mom..."

Her chin trembled as she shook her head, wiping her eyes. "I can't lose another parent like that."

I looked into her eyes and saw traces of new cracks that weren't there before. She didn't have to say it for me to know it was happening all over again.

"Shh...you won't." I wrapped my arms around her as she pressed her face into my chest. "Where's Aaron now?"

"Ms.Jenkins's. I'm...gonna pay her when I..." She moved away from me and sat back, wiping her eyes. "I'm sorry."

I nodded, ignoring the cold space she'd left. "So you don't have to worry about Aaron for now."

She tugged a hand through her hair, exhaling. "I still need to find a way to pay her though. She said no, but I can't just let her do that. Maybe take on another shift at—"

"I got it."

She turned to me sharply. "What?"

"How much? I'll take care of it."

She glared at me, shaking her head. "Don't. No. You can't do this."

"Why not?" I blinked in surprise.

"Don't pity me, Noel. I'm not a charity case and I won't be one." Her eyes blazed in the dark.

"I'm not pitying you! I'm trying to help you for God's sake!"

"I don't need your help! I'll take care of this myself!"

"But that's what friends do!" My voice was getting louder and I slid the window glass down so our voices wouldn't be heard inside. "That's what friends do."

She tugged her hair into a ponytail, vigorously shaking her head. "I've taken care of this alone my entire life, I don't need you to freaking take pity on me."

I groaned and leaned closer, grabbing her arm when she turned away. She frowned and leaned backwards, knocking her head against the wall.

"Look at me."

"No. What're you doing, Noel? I don't—"

I leaned forward, pressing my forehead gently against hers. She froze, eyes boring into mine.

"Listen."

She started to protest and I placed a finger over her lips, glancing down at them before staring at her eyes again.

"No. Just listen." I sighed. "I'm not taking you to be a stupid charity case. I'm doing this as a friend. You don't like it? Fine, then pay me back later. There's no deadline."

She tried to shake her head and I pressed my lips together as my eyes flicked downwards again.

"You said you've done it alone and gotten this far. Well now you don't have to be. You don't have to do this alone, Cecilia. Let me help you," I pleaded.

She blinked and a tear ran down her temple. I wiped it away, tracing her jaw as her breath caught.

"Okay?" I murmured.

She went still, then nodded slowly. "Just this once."

I smiled and moved away. She slumped, exhaling.

"You know I'll just be using you. I'm not..." She blushed and ducked her head.

I sighed. "I know. I'm letting you." I paused. "It feels like shit. But I'm letting you."

"...I'm sorry."

I stayed silent.