He grabs a newspaper off the counter behind him and hands it to me. I’m excited for this new journey but I feel like I’m leaving a part of myself behind. I feel a mixture of sad and happy, I don’t know how to feel.
“I thought you’d say that, so I made sure and had Jannet get the morning’s paper. There are a couple people looking for roommates in there,” he informs, pointing his finger at the paper.
Taking it, I feel bad for wanting to experience life. I feel like I’m leaving him.
“We are still going to be close, right?” I question, my head tilted to the side.
He gives a half-smile. “Yeah. I plan on fully interrogating your roomie, and your new job,” he says, popping a piece of fruit into his mouth.
I laugh, liking the sound of that. I’m glad he understands I need to see what it’s like to be free, to see what it’s like to be independent but I’m going to miss him. I really hope we stay close friends.
Romeo is the new king of New York, he can do anything he wants and knowing he wants to protect me even after the threat is gone, is a great feeling.19LunaPulling a cardboard box out of the back of Romeo’s Navigator, I head toward the yellow door that is squeezed between a juice shop and an insurance company. Carrying the last box up the hard wooden steps, I take a left into the apartment, the smell of incense strong, and the vibrant colors from the couch, curtains, to whatever she has hanging on the wall nearly has me going into shock until I go into my room where it’s three brick walls, and one creamy painted one. I set the box on the twin bed, my room much more subtle than the rest of the place. I don’t know how I will decorate it, I’ll have to wait until I get paid and go looking around to see what fascinates me.
Romeo reaches the front door with a throw blanket from his couch in his hands, and my roommate steps out of her room and begins to hassle him.
“Wait! I need to smudge that!” she says with panic, waving around a roll of burning sage that looks like a giant joint.
“Cassie, it’s fine,” I tell her, walking into the room.
Ignoring me, she continues to wave the smoke around Romeo and the blanket, her red hair tied back in a braid with flowers, and her long wavy dress printed with rainbow designs.
Romeo gives me a look and I can tell he’s two seconds away from shooting her. Snatching the blanket from his arms, Cassie takes a step back, eyeing Romeo. It’s like she can sense his blood lust. She’s weird, I know, but it was either this or having a roommate that hoards everything. I couldn’t even get in the door to find my room. Plus, Cassie got me a job at the Starbucks near Times Square, so she’s the winner. I can’t wait to be able to look out the window at Christmas time and watch everyone walk by in their puffy coats and hats.
“I’m out of here Luna, but…” He hesitates and my heart begins to sink. This will be the first time without him.
“I’ll call you,” I promise, and he gives a tight lip smile, before leaving and shutting the door behind him.
Raising my arm, I chew on my nail nervously. I feel so alone all of a sudden, nervous even.
Turning to see what Cassie is up to, I find her doing some yoga pose with that damn joint looking thingy in her hand.
“Hey, do you want to watch a movie, order some food?” I ask her. She doesn’t even look up.
“NO. I do yoga for an hour, then read, take a bath and go to sleep. I need my energy,” she replies with a strained voice. My eyes sweep to the window behind the colorful couch, it can only be six in the evening. Really?
I guess I’ll unpack then. Going to my bare room, I grab a box and start to unpack some of my clothes, the quietness deafening.RomeoBack in my apartment, I stand in the kitchen looking around. It’s quiet as hell in here without Luna. Sighing, I head to my room and find a piece of paper on my made bed. Picking it up, it’s a sketch of a sunflower, only this one is not dead, it’s very much alive. The stalk fully erects, and the head displaying an abundance of petals. It’s beautiful. Luna must have left it here for me to find.
Climbing on the bed, I hold it in my hand, staring at it. I don’t feel the want to watch TV, go for a walk or even eat. I just want to lay in bed and smell the scent of Luna left on my sheets. My back against the headboard, I open my nightstand and pull out a cigar instead of a cigarette. Putting it in the corner of my mouth, I taste the sweet tobacco and think about the time Luna and I shared a cigarette in this very bed. I don’t think I can be Luna’s friend, her fucking buddy. I long for her in a way that hurts, my chest feels hollow without her here. I am either going to have to have her, or not at all. It’s the only way.