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★✯✰ Like a falling star’s light, this too shall fade. ✰✯★

Sonia sat on the edge of the bed furthest from the door with the lights turned off to reduce the glare on the window that overlooked Reed’s garden in the backyard.

Every few seconds a streak of light cut across the night sky, most were white, but every so often it looked like one had a rainbow trail chasing after the falling star. It was a beautiful sight to see and yet it brought no measure of joy or smile to her face.

Her room was empty now save for a few things she felt comfortable parting with such as the bedspread and bookshelf. There was a Pixar lamp on the desk with a few unused notebooks and new pencils in one of the drawers. In the closet were a couple of articles of clothes still hung from the hangers, most that remained were shirts she hadn’t worn in some time; perhaps Amora or Kiri would like them. If not, there was always Good Will.

It had taken several weeks of discretely packing an extra duffel bag full of books, clothes, and some knick-knacks to finally get to where things were now. An otherwise vacant space with only small hints that she’d ever lived there. Aside from Amora, nobody seemed to notice; then again, taking into account that Amora slept in Sonia’s room while she slept on the couch, it would be hard for her not to notice that things had suddenly gone missing.

Even so, she didn’t out her or her plans which Sonia was grateful for.

Eventually, when the meteor shower seemed to be slowing, she rose from her perch and in the same motion lifted the strap for her duffel bag over her head before picking up a small velvet bag from the nightstand. A parting gift, yet one she lacked the courage to give to Reed directly.

It was a bag of seeds, magical in nature, but in what context she wasn’t sure. Unlike Reed, she didn’t have a green thumb and would likely kill a plant before it made it to the next season. Even so, it was something she’d held onto since December but with things as they were, she didn’t end up giving it to him then.

There was no note to accompany the small gift, just the house key he’d given her not long after he’d introduced her to his residence. It made the bag feel inexplicably heavy as she carried it down the hallway, floorboards squeaking beneath her feet, loudly announcing her soon-to-be departure in the otherwise quiet and empty house.

Everyone was gone, be it work obligations or the Star Fall Festival she wasn’t sure since she’d respectfully declined any invitations set for today.

This wasn’t the first time she’d left this way, a quiet ghostly exit. A moment there and the next - a memory of how things once were. They say that a person's voice was the first thing people forgot. Made her wonder how long until anyone noticed how quiet things would soon become.

Probably a while since she’d often stayed out late recently, or found excuses to not come home altogether. A couple of times Sonia stayed at her parent’s home while others were spent in Phedre’s spare guest room while she waited for any of her offers on a condo to be approved.

Reed’s house was never her home, not really anyway. Part of it was because she always held onto the notion that this arrangement between them was temporary and would end eventually. Until recently she’d assumed it would be because she’d pissed him off one last time and he’d finally kicked her out, but that wasn’t the case. Far from it in fact. He had opened his home to others in need, an admirable act considering the alternative of living in the barracks, but it wasn’t a living situation she was equipped to deal with.

Family was one thing, but the two of them were still having moments where they butt heads and she didn’t want these new faces, ones that should be looking up to him, to see her disrespect his authority or push buttons. It felt like their eyes were on her always and even with the lights out their gaze was still upon her. A silly notion, no doubt, but one she couldn’t quite shake.

Sonia hesitated a moment before finally pulling the drawstrings taught to close the bag securely and hung it from Reed’s bedroom door handle. Her side bag shifted and she repositioned the strap to a more comfortable spot before descending the stairs. One last time she looked around the foyer, to the kitchen with the basket of fruit she filled earlier that day with fresh bananas, pears, and a few apples from Trader Joe’s, to the couch with the blanket she often used folded neatly and set to one side.

A part of her wished that she’d been wrong and that things had been different. But the other part simply reminded her that this was inevitable and nothing could have changed it.

Despite the arguments and rough goings, it was nice while it lasted.

After a long moments pause, Sonia finally turned to leave. Her hand gripped the doorknob, which offered absolutely no resistance as she turned it, which seemed odd until she opened the door inward and realized why. <******** me… Her heart hammered against her chest as she looked forward in shock. A dumb-struck expression plastered to her face pinkish-red hue rising up across her cheekbones to the tips of both ears. Thank god the lights were off saved for the street lamp outside. Of course he’d come home now… Play it cool. She had this…

She’d played this scenario out in her head already and rehearsed what she’d have to say.

“I’m sorry,” Sonia stepped aside and held the door open for Reed. “I didn’t realize you were on your way home.” She held onto the strap to her side bag like it was a lifeline; a reminder that a small conversation was fine but she couldn’t stay long.

“Sorry,” She replied quietly, however her tone was only barely apologetic.

“The weather’s been too nice to sit around inside.” Which was mostly true. With the scars she bore, Sonia still wore long-sleeved cardigans and full-length jeans to cover them which meant she got overheated easily. Public pools and the reservoir were out of the question since she’d likely never feel comfortable enough in her own skin to wear a bathing suit again. “I just needed to get out.”

It’s too crowded here, she wanted to say but kept that last note to herself.

“I’m actually late picking Antoine up from the airport. His flight was delayed and our parents have work early so they asked me to pick him up.” A partial truth since her brother had gone on vacation to visit with friends in California but that was last week.

“Raincheck?”

“He’ll probably be jet-lagged but I’ll bring it up and let you know what he says.” Honestly, the next time she met with Reed, she didn’t want Antoine to be there since it would likely turn into an argument of some sort and she didn’t want her brother white-knighting her or getting either of her parents involved. As far as she knew, they had a decent respect for her now-former roommate and Sonia didn’t want to tarnish that perception.

It looked as if she were about to say something more but turned to look over at her car that was parked at the end of the driveway along the sidewalk.

She hesitated then. Momentarily considering walking back inside as if she’d forgotten something in her room and taking the back off his door. Leave at another time when nobody was due to be home.

But no. It was now or never, and never was not an option. Best to rip the bandaid off now and ask for forgiveness later than sit here and barter for permission with promises and sweet words.

“I should get going,” Sonia looked back at him one last time, a small smile that seemed sad as her gaze fell to the metal threshold between them, further down to the pea-gravel steps and carefully edged grass. “Good night, Reed.”

Goodbye.

She turned then, walked down the driveway, and past his car to her own. She fished around her side bag for her set of keys before opening the door and getting settled inside. When she looked over, the door was closed and she knew it was only a matter of time before her phone began to ring or he opened the blinds to see if she was still out there waiting.

For well over a month she had prepared herself for this and yet her chest felt tight and her eyes clouded with tears as she turned her phone off knowing that if she spoke to him now, any resolve she had with leaving would disappear and she’d come back if he just asked.

But she did not belong in the Garden of Eden he was building around himself. A sword had no place among a field of flowers.

Goodbye. The word echoed in her mind again as she turned the key and drove off in the direction of Phedre’s house.