AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She thought of his proposal as she left the camp and headed back home. She wondered if the adrenaline of the adventures had gone to his head. Infatuation always felt great at the moment, but Charlie knew how quickly it could burn out.
Each step felt like weights strapped to her legs as she reached the block of her apartment complex. She thought maybe her refusal was partially a defense mechanism, like her father said. If that was the case, she wondered if she was being stupid, choosing fear over hope.
The lock on her door clicked, and she pushed open the door to a dark apartment. She took off her shoes and threw them by the door, making her way to the couch, plopping down on it, and grabbing the remote. She turned on some useless show that could drown out her thoughts.
That didn’t mean it worked. Charlie’s head spun as she moved around on the couch, trying to get comfortable. No position seemed to help quiet her mind.
“I can’t do this without you,” a voice called from the screen. Charlie’s attention snapped to the screen.
A woman was pleading for a man to join her overseas. She was being reassigned to the army and wanted him to follow her. He had just landed the job of his dreams and refused to go with her.
Charlie’s eyes teared up as she watched the man’s refusal, seeing how hurt the woman was. The memory of Hammer’s face when she rejected his proposal flooded her mind, and guilt swarmed in her chest.
The guilt only produced more tears and wails as she sat in her dark apartment that night, wondering where he was, if he was all right out there in the wilderness and if he hated her for her decision.
The following day, Charlie woke to a message from her father asking if they could speak in person. She rolled her eyes, hoping this wouldn’t be another lecture about her love defection.
She threw on her favorite pants and a soft shirt, anything to make her feel better after the hell of a day she had experienced the day before. Grabbing her shoes and a quick cup of coffee, she ventured out of the apartment and went to her father’s office.
The drive was miserable. Each and every car in the city was out on the road, slamming on its brakes and trying to get to work. One, in particular, swerved into Charlie’s lane, almost side-swiping her.
“Asshole!” she yelled, honking on her horn.
The driver flipped her off, and Charlie shook her head as she took a deep breath. She usually had the patience to deal with the hectic city life, but as she caught a glimpse of the sky through the towers, she thought of how easy it would be to fly there.
She continued driving as she entered a trance of memories. She thought of the wind on her face as Hammer flew her through the sky, the feeling of his scales rubbing against her legs. How he laughed when she told a stupid joke and how his eyes glimmered in the moonlight. She smiled slightly before she remembered he was gone.
Before she could dive too deep into mourning, she arrived at her father’s office building, parked her car, and walked inside. She passed by numerous people and thought of how average their lives were. They got up, went to work, came home, had dinner, and slept.
A heavy feeling weighed in her chest as she wondered if that would be her future now that she had made her decision. She shook the thought from her mind as she knocked on her father’s door.
“Come in!” his voice called out.
“Hey, Dad,” she said sweetly as she walked in.
On the phone, her dad waved her in. She closed the door behind her and sat in one of the chairs facing his desk.
“Yes, I understand, Mr. Oppenheimer.” He motioned to the phone and rolled his eyes. Charlie smiled.
“All right, okay, yeah, yup.” Her dad opened and closed his fingers and thumb, indicating the man wouldn’t stop talking.
Charlie mouthed for him to stop playing around, and he grinned as he bid his goodbyes to the nuisance and hung up the phone.
“Sorry, baby girl!” her dad said lightheartedly, walking around from his desk to hug her.
“It’s okay, Dad,” she said, chuckling as she embraced him.
He returned to his chair and sat, crossing his legs and gazing at her happily.
“So,” she began. “What’s up?”
“What’s up …” Her father paused. “Is that I have struck a deal with the Thiorheil’s new government.”
“Oh?” she said, impressed.
“Mmm-hmm,” her father said, nodding. “They’re beginning an up-and-up investigation into some remains buried beneath the countryside near their capital city.”
“What type of remains?” Charlie asked, her interest piqued.
