by Dave Ferraro
***
Amber stood at the door of the taxi that would take her to Gypsy Creek Airport. Guiliana stood with tissues in her hand, ready for the steady flow of tears that were sure to come.
Amber stared over to the woods where Carmine had disappeared. She really wished he had come back to say goodbye. Perhaps he had left on his business trip as Guiliana had said, but Amber couldn’t help feeling that there was something terribly wrong. She was just about to slide into the back of the car when Carmine appeared at the far corner of the house. Amber stopped and stepped back out of the cab. She smiled at him, but he did not even acknowledge her, even though he was staring right at her. His eyes were blank again. She waved at him, one last attempt to get his attention, but he still ignored her and strode up the porch steps and into the house. Amber’s sigh was heavy. Guiliana saw the glisten of a tear in the girl’s eyes and cursed Carmine in her head. The two of them hugged quickly when the driver gave a loud grunt, showing his annoyance.
“Are you sure you have everything you need?” Guiliana asked and Amber nodded. “You have your mobile?”
“Yes, I have everything.” She paused and stared at Guiliana. “I’m really going to miss you,” she told her, and before Guiliana had a chance to burst into a flood of tears, Amber jumped into the back of the taxi and they drove off.
Amber thought of Carmine as the taxi drove through the small town she had called home for eighteen years. She’d never seen it, but was not interested in looking at its many attractions right then.
Her heart was heavy and the tears rose again. A single tear passed through her lashes, leaving a wet stain on her cheek. Amber could not give in to Carmine now; she’d worked too hard and come too far to turn back. This is what she wanted more than anything and there was no way he was going to change her mind. She chided herself for the tears she shed for her father and wiped her wet cheek. A sudden feeling of nervousness and excitement grew in the pit of her stomach. Life was about to begin.
Chapter Three: Therian