Page 15

Libra

M y feet dragged as I stepped around the store, holding a lit lantern, checking inventory.

Numerous lit candles lined the store, keeping it comfortably warm despite the wet, cold weather outside.

The storm from the night before was intense, leaving half the town without power.

The sky, despite being the middle of the day, was dark and cloudy, matching my gloomy mood.

“You look like shit,” Sterling snipped as I raised the lantern to see his face.

Even with no power, he was all dolled up.

Sterling crossed his arms as the candlelight flickered across his face, the glitter around his eyes sparkling.

“I thought you were getting better sleep? What happened? Your sleep paralysis get worse?”

“The opposite,” I snapped, adjusting some of the displays on the shelf. “Now, all I want to do is sleep. To forget,” I whispered the last statement to myself.

“Look, I don’t know what secret little thing you have going on that’s making you look like this,” he motioned his hand in a circle, pointing to my face, “but I need you to get your shit together. We have that Halloween party in a few days, and I need a devil to complete our costume. So,” he took the lantern from my hand, “take your moody ass home and get some sleep.”

“Sterling—”

“No. You’re obviously going through something, and I need you to figure it out. So go home, Libra. The power’s out; no one’s coming in today. I got this. Go.” I looked at him, silently grateful he was letting me leave.

“Thanks,” I sniffled, gathering my things. “I’ll see you at the party, okay?”

“Oh, you better. I didn’t spend all that time making my costume to be a sexy angel without a sexy demon.”