HEART OF A TRUE LUNA novel Chapter 3

A YEAR AFTER THE ACCIDENT.

AMBER.

That day never came. It had been exactly a year since the accident, and I had rarely encountered Zach. I tried visiting him multiple times, but I was not allowed to pass through their borders.

I tried reaching out to his parents, and they let me in one time, only for me to leave feeling more heartbroken than I was.

Zach was no longer the man I fell in love with. It was replaced with a monster who had no regard for anyone around him, even for me.

I tried to understand him. He lost his capability to walk in that accident, while I was able to come out without any damage except for a small portion of my earlobe that was cut.

And we both knew it was my fault. He made sure I remembered that.

“If you weren’t a fucking whore and tried to get laid that night, I could have seen what was going on on the road.” He said those words to me many moons ago, but I still hear it as if he just said it earlier.

I knew after that we could never have what we used to have. The accident broke him, and in return, he was breaking me.

But as absurd as this might be, I couldn’t lie to myself. I knew despite all the heartaches and the tears I shed for him, he was still the only one my heart was craving for.

It had been almost a full year of me trying to move on. I tried to go on dates, but I would always cancel at the last minute. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t look at any other man and not compare them to Zach—the old Zach—the one who never gets upset regardless of what I do.

FLASHBACK.

Amber - 10 years old.

Zach - 12 years old (almost 13)

10-YEAR-OLD AMBER’S POV.

I locked myself up in my bedroom. Yesterday was my 10th birthday, but it was the worst day of my life. I didn’t want to face anyone. Not even my siblings. I was sure Cyrus and Eva would laugh at me.

I would never forgive Zachary Vernon. Ever again.

We were playing, and I was having fun. I thought Zach did, too. He teased me, and I fought back. Until I got pissed off because he said I walked like a duck with my ass up and my feet inward.

I saw the ice bucket. The ice already melted, so I just added more water.

I discreetly made my way to where he was seated, where he was tying up sticks together for Eva, Abegail, and Sheridan. The sight just added to my annoyance. He was fixing their sticks first before mine.

So I dumped the cold water onto his head.

He growled. Really loud. The kind of growl I had never heard before. Not even from Dad.

I dropped the bucket, and the metal sounded so loud against the tiled floor that my eyes widened. Zach turned to face me. His face was as red as a tomato, and he was dripping wet.

Then he began yelling at me.

I didn’t understand what he was shouting because I started crying. Aunt Nadia came and told Zach to lower his voice.

Then everybody came. Everybody heard him shouting at me.

So I ran away and locked myself in my room. Dad came and spoke with me, and I told him I was okay. A few minutes later, Zach and Aunt Nadia were outside my room. Zach apologized, and I told them I was okay.

I lied. I wasn’t okay. I still hated him.

“Amber, sweetheart. Open the door. You didn’t eat breakfast and lunch.” Mom’s voice came again for the nth time today.

“I’m okay, Mommy. I’m just playing.”

“Can Mommy play with you?”

“You’re too old to be playing with dolls,” I answered before pulling my blanket over my head.

I lied again. I wasn’t playing anything. I was still in bed. I still have my party dress on. I also lied when I told Mommy last night that I was already in my pajamas.

“Can we talk? I need to tell you something.”

“You can tell it now.”

“Amber Rose, I have a key to your door, and I will open this. Don’t let me take Daddy here, or he’ll be more persistent than me.”

I let out a breath before climbing out of bed. The moment the door opened, Mom’s shoulders sagged. “You’re still in your dress.”

“I fell asleep in it.”

“Oh, sweetheart.” She wrapped her arms around me and hugged me. “I asked you to let me in so I could help you.”

“I’m a big girl, Mommy,” I said as I hugged her back, only for my eyes to widen because I saw Zach on the other side of the corridor, leaning his back against the wall.

“What are you doing here?”

“He wants to talk, sweetheart,” Mommy answered.