Chapter Eight

Sebastian

And so my parents and Beth's parents bid Melody and me farewell, and they packed their things. They sobbed uncontrollably, and then they said their shaky farewells as if it were the last time we would see one another.

I say 'they' loosely.

Because, in honesty, it was only mine and Beth's mother who cried at leaving us alone here in our r

Our fathers couldn't have cared less, showing no sign of emotional turmoil at the thought of the pair of us staying here whilst they left and entered back into the routine of their own lives.

To say I was relieved when I finally closed my front door and leaned my back against it would be an understatement.

Beth was there, of course, standing at the bottom of the stairs, waiting for me to make eye contact, but I refused, for Melody was sitting on the living room floor playing with some toys, right within earshot of her father, acknowledging this sanity blip.

Instead, I glanced only to her feet, willing her to disappear as I held my breath