Chapter twelve: Aster's toxic relationship with Devin continued until Aster lost control of her classroom and herself and--and now she must deal with the aftermath.
photo by ldyck
Chapter thirteen
Periodic pounding disrupted Aster's sleep. She opened one eye. "Too bright!” She spat at the light pouring through the window. Forcing open her other eye, she brought the fuzzy digits on the alarm clock into focus. 1 PM. 1 PM? Aster was still in bed in the middle of the day. Humiliation prompted her to move. Pushing herself to rest on her elbows, she swung her legs off the bed and lowered her feet to the floor. Everything—from the part in her hair to the toenail on her big toes—hurt.
The knocking continued.
She shoved her feet into her slippers and threw her robe over her nightgown. She walked past the bathroom without stopping to brush her hair or teeth. Good grooming mattered to A— But not today.
Bunny grinned awkwardly through the window in the back door. Bunny—of all people.
Aster unlocked the door and pulled it open a few inches.
“Aster, I've been so...” Bunny stepped into the gap. “We've been so worried about—.”
Aster placed an arm on the door frame and held onto the doorknob. “I’m not accepting visitors.”
“Oh, I understand. It's just that you left a few things behind. And I thought you might want them.” Bunny tried to push a cardboard box through the gap. Aster's 'World's Best Teacher' mug rested on top of the pile in the open box.
“You can leave that box over there on the porch.” Aster pointed with her chin at the Deacon’s bench.
“Aster, would you like to ta—.”
Aster closed and locked the door. She walked over to a chair, wrapped her arms around her torso, and lowered her gaze to the floor. Footfalls crossed the porch and went down the stairs. A car door closed. A car engine started.
Aster raised her head, looked out the window, and watched the car drive away. She continued to watch until Bunny was out of sight.
She sat there, only breathing, trying not to think until she realized she had to get away. She had to go somewhere, do something—anything. But what?
“I’m going shopping,” Aster announced to the walls.
***
Eton Garden Mall pulsed with the ebb and flow of shoppers. Knit brows, hard eyes, frowning lips were all that Aster saw. Did they know what she’d done? Did they judge her, hate her?
Aster sped through the mall, passing store after store until she stood at the threshold of her favourite shop. She breathed in deeply. Dresses fashioned by British designer Daphne Wenworth beckoned to her. Aster stepped into the shop, picked up the hem of a dress in a spring flower print, and ran the fabric between her fingers.
“What about this necklace, Mama?”
A familiar voice... Elizabeth Joy? Aster’s mood lifted.
The girl stood beside her mother a few feet away. Their backs were to Aster.
“Hello, Elizabeth J—.”
Without a word or even a nod, Victoria grabbed Elizabeth Joy’s hand and they left the shop.
Aster is trying to live through the aftermath of her actions but isn't doing a very good job. A worried Bunny finds Aster still asleep in the middle of the day. Bunny offers friendship but Aster rejects her. Needing to get away, Aster decides to go shopping but everything she finds in the mall only reinforces how she feels about herself.
