Secrets Rising...

Luke

I'm spent. Carved out. My mouth feels dry and my teeth woolly.

Rough.

But sober, the bottle reflecting warm mahogany. This is emotional exhaustion but despite it, I feel a spark of gladness at being and it refills me with something. Hope?

I sit up. I never made it to bed. I'm still on the sofa.

Mark. Poor Mark. I need to tell Matt.

*

Bethan

It feels a bit weird knowing I'm going to see Dave again. I wonder how he'll react to seeing me. Not well, I would imagine. He was all too eager to leave.

On the drive there, I rehearse what I'm going to say to him in my head. "Why didn't you answer my calls? All I want to know is if you know these boys? Why won't you engage?"

It's an interrogation but I need answers.

*

Luke

I text Matt: We need to talk. I've had some news.

I don't want to tell him about Mark over text but I don't know if I'll be able to get the words out in person.

It takes ages for him to reply although he sees it virtually straight away.

Eventually, he asks: What's happened?

I reply: Can we talk?

Again, an age before a reply.

Okay. Now?

I take a deep breath and I call him.

*

Bethan

It's a nice house. Small but well-maintained.

I need courage to walk up to it. I don't know what I'm going to find. I'm envious, if I'm honest, that he has this. Bastard.

I knock. I hear the lock turning. Here we go.

*

Luke

Matt takes his time to answer and when he does, he's brusque.

"What's going on, Luke?"

I take a deep breath and force the words out in one big blast before emotion can rear up again.

"It's Mark. He's dead. Suicide."

Silence.

"How do you know?"

I explain what happened: my chance meeting with Mrs Wright. He listens.

Finally, he says, "Shit."

After a big pause, he says, "Fuck." Is he crying?

Eventually, he speaks, his voice deep and raw and says, "We need to talk. There's something you need to know."

*

Bethan

The door opens. A girl answers.

What?

Laney?

***

366 words

What will Matt have to tell Luke?

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