#luna walker

Gabriel smiled. ‘Wanna follow your sister, huh?’

Luna pressed her fingernails into the palms of her hands. She missed her older sister, Lily, terribly. While Luna was stuck in Valtoria Lake, Lily was exploring Europe with her boyfriend. With Lily gone, Luna felt like the outcast of her neighbourhood and school. 

‘She’s in Greece right now,’ Luna told him. ‘She sent me a video of her at some ruined temple.’

Gabriel cast a glance over at Luna. Not for the first time, he wanted to stop the car and give her a hug. He knew how much Luna hated living here and how desperate she was to gain her independence. He felt the same; all he wanted was to hit the open road and get away from this goldfish bowl that was American suburban living. 

‘I hate this place,’ Luna muttered. ‘Nothing ever happens here. It’s all perfect and just right.’ She said this with dripping sarcasm. 

‘Haven’t you heard?’ Gabriel said, ‘This is the American dream.’

‘Fuck the American dream.’

Gabriel chuckled and finally picked a song he thought Luna would laugh at. Lana del Rey.

Luna eyed his phone. ‘And fuck Lana del Rey,’ she said defiantly. 

Gabriel grinned. ‘But she’s the patron saint of the American dream!’ he joked.

They had reached Luna’s street. It was a street lined with oak trees and Luna’s house was situated at the very end, slightly up a hill so it had an elevated position. It stood over the rest of the houses and it was certainly the most grand. 

Luna’s family were made of money. Her father, Drake, was an established human rights lawyer while her mother, Camille, was a politician. They were famous within the Valtoria Lake community. Anytime their family left the house, Luna swore that she could see their neighbour’s curtains twitch. 

Gabriel parked up. ‘Alright, trouble,’ he said jovially. ‘Pick you up tomorrow at 8.30. School awaits!’

Luna groaned. ‘Shoot me now,’ she replied. ‘Bye bitch.’

Gabriel smiled. ‘Bye bitch.’

He watched as Luna gathered up her backpack and clambered out of the car. He waited for her to walk up the long driveway as she searched for her house keys. 

‘Mom, dad, I’m home!’ she called out before slamming the door. 

Gabriel turned the key in the ignition and drove back down the street, humming along to his music. 

********************************

The lights were on but the house was silent. 

Luna could smell burning coming from the kitchen. Alarm spread through her as she dropped her bag on the floor and rushed through to the kitchen. Smoke was slowly sifting from the oven; she quickly turned it off and opened the oven door to see something very black and charred.

Her mom was usually a great cook. She never burned things.

‘Mom? Dad? Dinner’s burned!’ she called out. Walking through the hallway, she came to the living room where finally, she could hear voices. Whispers. Cracked tones. Crying.

She opened the door to find her parents sitting together on the couch, heads together. Drake had his arm around Camille and was making soothing noises as Camille let out choked sobs.

‘Mom? Dad?’ Luna said in a small voice. ‘What’s wrong?’

Her parents jumped, now seeming to realise that Luna was home. 

Drake’s eyes widened. Camille’s eyes were puffy and red rimmed. She couldn’t stop shaking.

‘Mom?’

Camille’s breathing was shallow and harsh. She looked down at her hands, apparently unable to look at her daughter.

Luna moved closer, slowly, as if Camille was a frightened animal. As Luna stared at her, she could see that her mother was actually frightened.

‘Mom?’ Luna whispered.

Her eyes darted down to Camille’s hands.

Her hands were stained red.

‘...Mom?’ Luna’s voice came out strangled. ‘Your hands. What the fuck?’

Her parents didn’t even scold her for swearing. Instead, Camille hid her hands behind her back and swallowed hard.