Departure

Lorelei

I spent that night outside studying the phenomenon. The sky, unfailingly, stayed light for thirty minutes then went dark for an hour. After the first seven hours of this I decided that it wasn't going to change and began researching this weird occurrence. I entertained multiple possibilities last night but I believe the most likely one is the sun pulsating. The only question I have is why. Why would the sun be pulsating?

When Elijah woke up he walked into the kitchen and found me working on a laptop. I got hungry last night so between researching and watching the sky I made coffee and biscuits.

When Elijah sat down at the kitchen table I pushed a plate of biscuits at him. Elijah accepted it gratefully and began digging into the food. I took my eyes off of the laptop and on to my husband. His hair was messed up from sleeping on it and was all over the place. I reached over and tried to fix it but sometimes it feels like Elijah's hair is unfixable.

"So you really don't want a kid?" Elijah looked at me.

I shut my laptop and gave him a look. Elijah couldn't hold his composure and he smiled because he knew exactly what he was doing.

"Are we having this conversation again?"

Elijah turned his head in thought almost appearing to think about whether he wanted to pick this fight.

"Yes." He nodded.

"Give me two good reasons we should have a kid now." I entertained him but we both knew that my answer was going to be no.

"Because I know deep down you want another one of me and two you love me so you'll say yes?" Elijah tried.

"You're ridiculous. One, I can't handle another Elijah and two, no."

Elijah pouts a bit and I laugh.

"Elijah I'm going to call America about the situation of the light. She should probably know so she can get the astronomers working on this."

Elijah nods his head and I pulled out my laptop. I dialed up America and she answered on the third ring.

"Hey Lorelei, how is the honeymoon going?" America smiled as she saw who it was.

"It's going great except for one thing."

"Oh no, what's wrong?"

"Well," I bit my lip trying to think of how to phrase it.

America winced.

"Is it Elijah? Did he do something idiotic?" America asked.

" Hello, right here, America." Elijah stepped into the frame.

"Well if it's not Elijah then what is it?"

"The sun may or may not be," I thought hard about what word I should use, "broken."

America's eyes widen and narrow.

"What do you mean broken?"

"I mean it's almost pulsating." I say out of lack of better words.

"Is that not normal."

"No it's not." Elijah answered as he spread jam on his biscuit.

"Are you sure?" America asked.

"America, I lived in the sunshine for fifteen years and this isn't normal." Elijah assured her.

"Alright I'll talk to the astronomy division about it." America looked a little worried but quickly wiped that expression from her face.

"Lorelei are you okay? You look a little red?" America asked me.

"What do you mean?"

Elijah looked at me and touched my face. The skin felt hot and tight.

"Lorelei feels really hot." Elijah says putting his cool hand to my face.

"Lorelei did you do anything to bring this about?" America asked me.

"Lorelei spent the night out in the sunshine." Elijah answered for me.

"Alright I want you guys to come home. The sun is obviously not safe."

I frowned. I didn't want to leave. This was my honeymoon for goodness sakes. I looked over at Elijah and he looked disappointed as well.

"I'll call August to come pick you guys up." America picked up her phone and ended the call.

I turned to Elijah and he looked a little sad.

"So we have like 15 hours to waste. What do we do?" I asked Elijah.

Elijah got up and put his plate in the sink. When Elijah came back over he leaned down and kissed my forehead.

For the next few hours Elijah and I didn't do much. We just slept and relaxed on the sofas in the house. Between my job and College for Elijah we don't get much down time in our lives and since our honeymoon is being cut short I am going to take advantage of as much free time as I have.

When Elijah was asleep on the couch I quietly snuck out of the house. I didn't want him to know I was leaving. I tiptoed and winced when sticks cracked underneath my feet. Even though I know that he is sleeping inside, on the couch with a door closed between us but I still feel like he can hear me so I stay extra quiet.

I walked to the clearing and lay down in the sunshine. I know I'm going against America's orders to stay out of the sun but still it's sunshine and I miss it so greatly.

Somewhere deep in the back of my mind I feel my senses heighten. I look up from the grass I'm messing with and quickly turn my head from side to side trying to identify where my unease is coming from.

I try to spot something off in the quiet meadow but nothing seemed to be wrong. The slight breeze blew through the tall grass and small insects were chirping. Everything seemed peaceful but that small disturbance was in the back of my mind. My heart began beating faster and I felt that age old pull that something was wrong. It has been a long time since the human has been prey but our instincts are still there. My breathing was silent but I could feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins as my heart hammered throughout my chest.

Then on the other side of the clearing I heard a small crack of a twig. My head spun toward the noise and out of the clearing stepped Elijah. I immediately breathed out a breath of relief. It was just as idiot being to quiet.

"I thought you were sleeping."

"I thought you were too but then you left and I can't just have my wife running off by herself." Elijah responds as he sits down next to me.

"I really wanted to go in the sunlight." I protested.

"I bet."

I laughed a little because Elijah wouldn't understand the pull I have towards the sun.

"Come on Lore, August is coming soon. We have to get back." Elijah pulled me up off of the rock I was sitting on.

I stumbled along because I really didn't want to leave but it was true, we did need to go. Also according to America, the sun wasn't good for me.

"Lorelei you are looking a little flushed." Elijah touched the skin on my face.

I winced because it felt burnt and I knew all about that.

"Sorry Lorelei, does that hurt you." He quickly pulled his hand away from my face.

"It's fine just, please don't touch my face right now. It kind of hurts." I tell him.

Elijah looked a little worried for me. He was looking at me like I was going to break myself again.

"I'm fine Elijah." I assured him.