Letting him Go (short story)

04| A strange day

I narrowed my eyes in suspicion. "I already told you that he doesn't live here anymore."

"I know. Can you... help me find him?"

"Like I said this morning, I don't know where he lives, that's why I gave you his number."

"I know, but can't you ask your parents or something? It's urgent."

I couldn't help but sigh in frustration. God he's so stubborn. "Uh... why are you looking for him?"

He quickly looked away and I stared at the side of his face. "I know it's none of my business, but if you want me to help you... you need to tell me what's going on."

"It's something... personal," he answered, closing his eyes momentarily. That was exactly what Luke said, it was like they rehearsed the line or something.

"Why would I help you? You could be trying to kill him for all I know..."

"I just need to talk to him, Please." He let out a long breath. He looked emotionally exhausted. I recognized that look because it had been staring back at me in the mirror the last few days.

I didn't know what made it so hard for me to say no to him. I shouldn't even be hesitating. I can't betray my brother for a complete stranger for God's sake.

"I can't help you, sorry," I said, quickly passing him and rushing to the front door. His hand grabbed my arm making me drop my keys to the ground, and I turned to face him with wide eyes.

He immediately held his hands up and took a step back.

"I can't help you. Please just go away!" I picked my keys up with my eyes still fixed on him. But Just as I put it in the lock, his voice startled me once again.

"Okay, I'll tell you."

I crossed my hand over my chest and waited for him to speak.

"My girlfriend is cheating on me, with him," he said quietly.

My lips parted in complete shock. Lucas was an alcoholic, but this... this is too much. As far as I knew, he'd been with the same girl since highschool. But even if he was single, he wouldn't sleep with a girl knowing she's in a relationship.

"I found out last night. I saw them making out in the bar with my own eyes, and my friend recognized him as his classmate. We looked for his address and an old friend of his showed us this house," he explained.

"I'm... I'm sure he doesn't know. He's not that kind of person." I tried to defend Lucas, but from the look on his face I knew he wasn't buying it.

"I'll ask him myself. I need to find out how long they've been doing it behind my back and whether or not-"

"That's not gonna help with anything," I cut him off.

He blinked at me. "Didn't you hear what I just said? She's been cheating on me for who knows how long!"

"You're just too scared to accept the truth," I stated calmly.

Adam looked utterly confused and his bushy eyebrows arched high up above his eyes. "What do you mean?"

"If you face her... she may tell you things that you don't wanna know, and you're not ready for that." His face hardened, and I sighed before continuing. "Look, I know I don't have a say in this... but there's a big difference between someone who wants you and someone who wouldn't do anything that could make them lose you. And some people... they leave and come back whenever they want. But do you deserve that kind of person, or someone who never leaves in the first place? Think about that."

"I just... I don't understand why she would do this. Why now? We were making plans to move in together...I just don't get it," he mumbled, clenching his fists at his sides.

That's been my question ever since Cody left, so I already knew what to say. "That's the hardest truth. You may never know why. You can ask her but not get a satisfying answer. Nothing she can say can be a good enough reason and you just can't do anything about it so you accept it and try to move on."

He remained silent, and I looked down to my feet. "Please don't be quick to blame Lucas, he might be a lot of things but he is not a cheater."

"You're saying this because he's your brother," he said uncertainly, tilting his head to the side.

"Okay but what if it was his fault?" I asked, throwing my hands to the air. "Let's say you find him and end up confronting him about it and he tells you he knew. Let's say he did it on purpose. Then what, huh? What are you gonna do? Beat him up? What's that gonna do for you? Do you think you'll feel better somehow?"

"You don't know what I'm going through, so just stop trying to-"

"Actually... I do know how you feel. I'm going through the same thing. Okay maybe not the exact same thing, but I get it."

He held his face with his hands and murmured something to himself.

"I'm not telling you it's easy to let go and forget...and not miss what the two of you had. Trust me you'll miss it a lot, but eventually...you won't want it back. If that makes any sense."

He stared into my eyes and a curious expression took over his face. "What did he do?"

"What?" I asked him with a confused frown.

"Your boyfriend," he said, and corrected it a moment later. "Your ex boyfriend."

I realized he paid attention to that little information I revealed earlier about going through the same thing as him.

"Oh, uh...he left me," I said quietly, scratching the side of my head. My words were followed by an awkward silence, making me regret telling him.

"Why don't you come in? Tea... coffee... water?" I asked gesturing to the door, and he rubbed the back of his neck before answering.

"Thanks, but I have to go."

Thank God he declined, or it would've been one hell of an awkward-- what was I even thinking, inviting a total stranger into the house while no one else was home? That was so not me.

He took a step towards the gate before looking back at me. "And you're right, Paige. Nothing's gonna change what she did."

I nodded and he turned his back to leave. I wanted to comfort him and tell him everything would be fine, but I reminded myself that I was just a random stranger to him- and Luke's sister at that. My words wouldn't matter at all.

But I couldn't fight the urge to make him feel a little bit better. Say something nice, at least.

"Adam?" I called out before I could stop myself. He turned around and waited for me to speak. "You're a good person," I said quietly.

I'm not sure what made me say that out loud to a guy I just met today, but the smile that he gave me... it was totally worth it.

"You too."

I smiled back and waved at him before turning to the door.

What a strange day this has been.