Going Through the Motions

[Nox]

Juls let him go, but he wasn’t alone for long. Mae stood just outside the shower room. He felt her more than saw her. ”You fucked the soldier again.”

”Might as well have, the results would have been the same. It’s not the infidelity that broke things.” Nox said. ”It’s the broken promise.”

”What you going to do about it? Cause if you fuck with this happy family I’m going to hurt you.”

”I’ll leave if it comes to that, Mae. You guys can live happier lives without me in it anyway. I’m nothing but trouble.” Everything in his life told him that — from the moments he could first remember. He and Aurora hadn’t been wanted. Living a life on the road was hard, and Bryan Durante had been nothing but Atharim.

Nox spat on the floor.

Mae was wrapping her arms around him despite the water falling down and the fact that he was soapy and naked underneath the cascade. ”You are part of the family too. But we understand.”

Mae pulled away and shook herself off with a giggle. ”Now I’m all wet.”

Nox rolled his eyes as he finished washing the fight off him. The water stung his face, and he could feel some of the cuts opening back up. But it was a small price to pay to feel better. Music rolled in from the stages and Nox realized how much he’d miss this place. How much he already missed it and it had only been two days.

A fifteen minute shower was all he took. Anything more and his mind would wander and tears might fall. He was tired of crying. It was time to stay busy.