Chapter 243: Dead
"I don’t know how I feel," Adam said as he came back from the burial, brushing some dirt off his sleeve like it might distract him from everything else.
"You don’t have to know," Melanie replied. "You don’t need to put a name on it. If you’re sad, be sad. If you’re relieved, feel that. You don’t have to explain anything—not even to yourself."
Adam scratched his chin and tilted his head. "What if I’m feeling horny?"
Melanie had been walking toward him, maybe to offer a hug or just stand nearby, but she stopped dead in her tracks. Then, with an almost comic snap, she backed up a full step like the floor had turned hot.
Adam started laughing. "You’re too easy, Melon. That was too easy."
Adam was still chuckling to himself when the front door banged open. A pair of sneakers thudded rapidly down the hallway, and before either of them could fully register the sound, Adir skidded into the room like he’d been running from a storm.
He spotted Melanie first. Or at least he seemed to. Adam watched as Adir made a beeline for her. Adir Collins had selective vision for sure.
Without a word, Adir had run straight up to Melanie, his chest heaving. His eyes were wide and focused entirely on Melanie. She turned toward him, blinking in surprise as Adir stopped just a foot away. They stared at each other in complete silence.
Melanie looked down. He didn’t say anything. He just... stared. Something about the weight of his gaze made her straighten her posture, as if the kid was trying to see through her skin and bones.