Page 9 of Luci’s Lullaby

My eyes flutter to the ground by the rock. “He forgot his guitar.” I take the shortest route to the other side and find his case where he left it. I’m surprised he hasn’t thought of it.

Slipping and sliding as I claw my way up the embankment, I get to the top and can see his house from there. Covered in mud and leaves, I sneak to the backdoor, placing the guitar by it.

A faint sob rips at my heart. I can feel the sorrow with every muffled whimper. I follow the sound to the side of the house. Alden sits against his open window, fighting every tear that falls.

“Are you okay?” I jump as a woman’s voice trickles down to me.

He snubs, wiping his face before answering. “I’m fine.”

I can’t get a good look at his face, so I take a wary step trying to get a better look. A twig breaks beneath me, and I wilt into the side of the house, fear crippling me.

“Are you sure?” the female voice replies.

I hear rustling and then a thump. “I forgot my guitar at the river, I’m going to get it.”

I scramble, running as fast as I can to get away. I hit the edge of the woods just in time to duck behind some dense brush. Alden steps out the door to find his case on the back porch.

His eyes flicker around the area but I’m hidden, there’s no way he can see me. He’ll never know I brought it back to him. He picks it up, turning back to the house. He’s gone.

And so am I.