All We Know Is Falling: Fall With Me: Volume One by Nicole Thorn Page A

In their place was a note.
     
    Dear self-deprecating and very frustrating girl,
    I’ve taken your things. Don’t bother asking why. One: I’m not quite sure. Two: this is a piece of paper and asking it a question simply wouldn’t do a thing. And you’d look quite silly.
    Anyhow, you will be receiving a message by days end with proof of life for your belongings. Should you choose to ignore it, they will meet a terrible fate.
     
    It wasn’t signed.
    “I can’t believe this is happening,” I sighed. Alone in the bathroom. Guess I was going home in my Gym clothes.
    I popped down to Hell and was grateful it was empty. Mostly.
    “You’re early,” the homeless man said. I turned and he glanced me up and done. “And in different clothes.”
    “Well, it wasn’t up to me. Someone stole my clothes from my gym locker.”
    He smiled and his eyes danced with amusement. “Yes. I’ve always found human effort to be so fascinating. Much like their motivations.”
    “What do you mean?”
    He chuckled. “You’ll know soon enough. Quite the ride you’ll have too. Should be fun for you. If not only enlightening.”
    I just stared at him. He loved to speak in riddles.
    “Don’t worry,” he waved his hand and crossed his leg over his knee. “Riddles are often solved. And might I add, your friend is right.”
    “About?” He had to be speaking about Jay. She was the only person I could consider a friend.
    “When she said pain is part of being alive. You have much more life than most. Shame if you spent your days locked in your room reading.”
    I swear this guy must be a sage. He knew far too much.
    “I said it to Jenna and I’ll say it to you. I don’t wanna deal with humans. What’s the point? You love them and they love you. Then they die and leave you behind.” Just like Dad did. I loved him more than anything and I had to watch him slowly die my whole life.
    “You don’t get to decide who loves you. Most of the time you don’t even get to choose who you love. And wouldn’t it be so much worse to realize you love someone when it’s too late to do anything about it? You waste time and you miss out on living.
    “This boy who keeps following you, you reject his attention because you don’t want to get attached to a mortal?”
    I nodded.
    He laughed. “Do you honestly think that you can go through your endless life and never get attached to a mortal? Your mother has tried. I’ve watched her after every loss swear it was the last time. Then life goes on. The wound scars over and you try again.”
    “Maybe I don’t want to scar. Maybe I’d rather be alone.”
    He eyed me. “Would you?”
    I clenched my fist at my side. “Have you ever lost anyone?”
    “Yes,” he said without an ounce of emotion. “Many, many people.”
    “And did it hurt? The losses?”
    “Yes.”
    “Would you choose to go through them again? For all of the good that comes with it?”
    “Yes.”
    My body relaxed from pure exhaustion. “Why? And how do you deal with it?”
    “I’ve already said it. Life goes on.”
    “That’s it?” I shrugged. “You just get over it? Move on like nothing happened?”
    “Better than a lifetime of loneliness. But it doesn’t matter, because you won’t have that.”
    “How do you know?”
    He smiled again. “Maybe I am a sage. Go home. You’ve got an interesting weekend ahead of you.”
    I did as The Sage told me.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Five: On The Twenty-Third Day Of The Month Of September…
     
     
     
    “Why the Hell are you still in your P.E. clothes?” Hadley asked when I popped into the kitchen and dropped my backpack on the ground.
    Brom Bones jumped up on the counter and walked all the way up to her, getting right in her face and meowing loudly. “Shut up, Brom Cat. Nobody but Mom even likes you.”
    So true.
    The cat meowed at her again.
    “FINE!” She screamed. “I’LL GET YOU YOUR BLOOD-TUNA, YOU SON OF A WHORE!” She turned around and shuffled