Page 73 of Beneath the Blue Moon

***Ethan/Sheriff***

I pace beneath her bedroom window, whining, hoping she’ll

hear me. It’s been a week, and she still won’t talk to me. Every time I come

here, her father turns me away, and she doesn’t answer my calls. If she won’t

talk to Ethan, maybe she’ll talk to Sheriff. Her light comes on, and she peeks

out from behind the curtain before opening the window and giving me a weak

smile. I bite back an angry growl at the sight of her red, puffy eyes, and the

tears glistening on her cheeks.

“Sheriff. I’ll be right out.”

I head to the back of the house where I know she’ll be, pacing

impatiently until the back door opens. She steps out, wearing only a T-shirt

and underwear, and I have to will myself not to leap on her. Sniffling, she

sits on the top step, reaching for me.

“Hey, handsome.”

I hurriedly make my way up the steps, laying my head in her

lap. This past week has been absolute hell without her. I don’t know how, but I

have to get her back.

“Where have you been, boy?” She gasps when our eyes meet.

Fresh tears pool in hers, spilling onto her cheeks. “Your eyes… They look just

like….”

I don’t know what to do. Seeing her this way is devastating.

I whine, feeling more incompetent than I ever have.

“Oh, Sheriff… I love him so much,” she cries, throwing her

arms around my neck.

Then why did you leave me? Come back to me, Casey. I want

to yell at her, but it comes out as a whimper.

“But it’s for the best. I… I have to learn… to… live… without

him.” Her shoulders shake as she cries into my neck, forcing out her words

between sobs.

Tell me! Tell me what happened!

She pulls away, wiping at her tears. “You must think I’m a

crying fool.”

No, you’re hurt. I can make it go away. Just tell me why

you left.

“It hurts so much.”

She breaks down again, covering her face with her hands. This

is so frustrating! I want to change and demand she tell me what’s going on, but

that would only scare her away.

“I’m sorry, Sheriff… I can’t… I just….”

She jumps to her feet and races inside, locking the door.

Locking me out.