Or, perhaps more importantly, could I bear to go even another week withouthearinghis laughter beside me?
I don’t know.
I don’t think so.
Probably not.
Joymightbe boring for a brain like mine…but also maybe, just maybe, a brain like mine is more than capable of creating its own excitement in the face of a mundane reality. After all, isn’t that what I’ve already been doing my entire life?
Adding another character to my daily chapters is sure to keep things even livelier—especially if we’re co-writing this story…together.
Chapter 26
?
I’vewarned you twice now. And I bet you were even told in an author’s note. So don’t bother complaining.
August
“I am dying. Death is very, very…happening right now,” December says, over the phone, in the dead of night.
Pausing typing the epilogue of my vampire story, I provide my closest friend with adequate distress. “Oh no. So sad.” I finish the line I was in the middle of. “I shall bury you in my guest bed. Have no fear. You are also quite welcome to haunt me.”
Pitifully, she coughs. “You don’t care about me at all. A true friend would rush to my side and hold my hand while I take my dying breaths.”
Is that what I’m supposed to be doing? I wasn’t aware her parents let her have friends over this late without a thorough plan preceding any and all sleepover intentions.
At any rate, I save my document.
I—valiantly—stand.
I take a step toward my office door!
“Ah.”
“What is it?” she asks, not even sounding a little bit dead.
“I’m already in my pajamas. Do you think you could die in the morning?”
A wee wail exits her. “The light…it’s coming for me…”
“Is that amaybe?”
Instead of a response, my doorbell rings. Several times.
Exiting my office, I march through my house. “Are youhere? I thought your parents didn’t let you out of your cage after dark. Why aren’t you just barging in like normal? You’veneverrung my doorbell in your life. Are you actually dying? You know where I hide my spare k—” I open my front door. And freeze.
There, stunning in an array of dark cloth and lace, with blood-red eyes and scarlet lips and gothic airs…is my beautiful friend.
“Forgive me my out-of-character behavior.” She hangs up and tucks her phone in a pocket beneath her frills before she lowers her head in a bow. “My esteemed master begs upon your presence, Lady Saint.”
My throat closes as my heart thunders in my ears.
Hand to her heart, she presents…a wedding gown. Strung with yellow and sunflowers and everything I adore, the flowing garment rests upon a stand placed on my porch. “He bids you wear this and threatens me should you disobey his order.”
My lashes flutter as I come to. “Threatens you?”
Sorrow paints her smile. “Yes, my lady. Should I return empty-handed, it shall be my life he uses to sustain himself this eve.”
