What She Left Behind ✔️

chapter ten

A/N: Tune for the chapter—"White Balloons" by Sick Puppies.

Levi told me to stay at my parent's for a few hours. It's been three weeks.

It isn't his fault. He didn't change the locks and tell me to never come back. I've just been too ashamed to.

Then again, he hasn't reached out, either.

My parents, especially my mom, like having me home. I can see the worry on their faces every time I enter the room, though. They won't verbally ask me what's wrong, but I can tell it's what they're thinking.

Despite the unfortunate circumstances, it's been nice having the quality time with Bowie and Evangeline. The way he is with her... well, there's nothing else like it. He reminds me of the fun uncle who disregards the parents and gives the child whatever they wish for. She adores him, too. Whenever he comes home from work—he got a job as a dishwasher at a local diner since officially withdrawing from college—her eyes light up. She doesn't hug him—since Raelyn's death, the only person I've seen her hug is Alma—or even utter a word, but the expression on her face says it all.

Presently, as I sit in the front room and watch him chase her around, a cup of coffee in my hands and a blanket on my lap, I feel a bit melancholy. In a way, Raelyn's death has brought us all together. My parents love having a "real kid" in the house. Bowie spends his time washing crusty plates and playing with a six year-old, yet I don't think I've ever seen him happier. Even Evangeline, who just became an orphan six short weeks ago, is smiling again.

And all I've done is isolate myself from the people I care about. What the hell is wrong with me?

"You okay?" Bowie collapses beside me, his face soaked with sweat. "You look a little blue."

"I have a lot on my mind," I admit.

"Does it have to do with you-know-who?"

"Voldemort?"

He chuckles. "Funny. No, I mean"—he leans in close and lowers his voice—"Raelyn."

"A little bit," I reply. "I don't know. I got in a huge fight with Levi. We haven't spoken in weeks."

"Ah, so that's why you've been staying here."

"He kind of kicked me out."

"Uh, isn't your name on the lease?"

"He didn't kick-me-out kick me out," I clarify. "Just needed some space, so he asked me to leave."

"What was your fight about?" he inquires.

I shake my head. "Honestly, I don't even know. I accused him of being an alcoholic. Then I accused him of favoring Raelyn over me. Then I said that people who commit suicide are psychotic. Then he confessed to having once attempted to take his own life. Then I tried to apologize, but he was already too upset, so he told me to get out."

Bowie's eyes bulge out of his head. "Uh... Gemma, I love you, but unless you're leaving out a few crucial details about what Levi did wrong, it kind of sounds like you owe him an apology."

"I said I was sorry!"

"Try an edible arrangement?"

"You're so not funny." I smack my brother's arm. "Bowie, what should I do? Levi's my best friend. I don't want to lose him."

He shrugs his shoulders. "Go talk to him. Sitting here moping isn't going to fix it."

"You're right." I push off the blanket and hand him my half-finished coffee. "I'm gonna pay him a visit right now."