Page 26 of Cherry Moon

There’s that anger…

Whatever.

Flinging the bedroom door open brought me face-to-face with Zach.

“Oh!” I squeaked, slamming on my brakes.

He lifted a hand in a hello, a tote bag hanging from his left shoulder.

“What’s wrong?” I signed.

He looked a little on the pale side.

“Can I talk to you?” he asked.

Hmmm. This wasn’t really the best time for bro chat.

“Sorry, I know you’ve got a lot on your plate,” he added. “But I really need to talk to you about something.”

Man, I couldn’t say no to him. He was my brother, and I had all the time in the world for him.

“Come in.” I stepped aside for him.

He thanked me before opening the tote bag and pulling out the holy text, 天使の書 (Book of Angels), the white leather cover immaculate.

“Oh, shit. I forgot.”

Next came a golden tenshi candle with a white 祈り(Prayer) carved into it.

Every Cherry Moon, we lit the candles, placing them beside the book and said our thanks, making sure to perform the little thank you ritual each of the seven nights.

We’d learned about the power of the Holy Week from a new chapter in the book. It appeared on the first year, a brief paragraph telling us what would happen. After that, we remembered it for ourselves.

Zach put the book on the table and lit the candle.

I bowed my head, saying thanks. He did the same, and that was that. Night one done.

Phew. Thanks to my brother for not letting me miss it. I’d have stewed on it for weeks.

Zach started pacing the room, visibly flinching from his own unease.

When I caught his eye, I signed for him to take his time.

What was going on in that head of his?

Pausing, he rustled in his pocket for a crumpled piece of paper. He placed it on the bed, then proceeded to sign an explanation.

“It’s in there,” he said. “Everything. I’m scared. I don’t know what to do, what to think. I’m confused.”

I hated to see the anguish on his face. “Are you sure you’re ready?”

Whatever it was he wanted to share with me, I wanted him to be absolutely sure now was the time to pull the trigger on it.

“A choice will present itself to you.”

I closed my eyes for a few seconds, shaking off that reminder.

I’d deal with it later.