Chapter 4: Revelations and Goodbye
Revelations and Goodbye
Celeste paused in mid-stride, unsure if she had truly heard her doorbell. She turned off the nearby radio and easily heard the seemingly insistent peal of the doorbell.
“I’m coming,” she called as she headed towards the door.

She peered through the peephole, surprised to see Jonathan there. She quickly undid the locks. She opened the door and Jonathan immediately came inside, not waiting for her usual invitation.

Once he had entered the room, Jonathan turned and looked at her, studying her with such intensity that Celeste suddenly became extremely nervous. Shutting the door, she gave a large smile.

“So, what are you up to this afternoon?” Her cheerfulness sounded artificial even to her ears.

“Why did you withdraw from college, Celeste?” he asked.

She felt her face flush. What kind of explanation could she really give him? “How did you find out?”

“Professor Armstrong stopped me as I was heading to my history class. He asked me to get you to reconsider your decision. He said that he would give any extension that you needed, Celeste.”

Noticing her expression becoming more guarded, he sighed. “What’s going? Why are you suddenly dropping out of school with three weeks before finals?”

Celeste leaned against her door, debating her choices. She reluctantly decided on the truth. “I’m going to Japan, Jonathan.”

His eyes almost popped. “Japan! What’s in Japan?”

“Setsuna has a problem and I’m going to Tokyo to see if I can help.”

“What kind of problem does this woman have that no one else in Tokyo, let alone the rest of Japan, can help her?” he demanded. “You don’t even speak Japanese, Celeste.”

“How would you know, Jonathan?” she countered, her temper flaring. “You don’t know everything about me. You have only known me for a few months.”

“I thought I knew enough to be your friend,” he muttered. He studied her for a moment and then sighed. “Why do I have to keep fighting to be a part of your life, Celeste? Why won’t you let me in?”

Celeste looked down at her socks, unable to look at the confused pain on his face. He continued to be there for her, no matter how horrible she had treated him. Jonathan was the only friend that she had in this city. So, why did she constantly try to push him away?

“I’m sorry, Jonathan,” she said softly. “Every person that I have loved has died. It's hard to let people in after that.”

Jonathan crossed the room and gently squeezed one of her shoulders. Somehow he couldn’t find the right words to say to her. “No one should spend their life alone,” he said finally. “I really want to be your friend, Celeste.”

She slowly looked up from her socks and meet his gaze. She gradually began to smile. "Thanks, Jonathan."

“So, as your friend,” he said, withdrawing his hand, “what can I do to help you prepare for this crazy trip of yours?”

“I’m mostly packed already,” Celeste replied, “but I do need a ride to the airport, if you think you could manage.”

“I think I could handle that. Anything else?”

“Well,” Celeste began, a twinkle in her eyes, “my suitcase is pretty heavy.”

* * * * *



Despite Celeste’s assurances that she would be okay, Jonathan stayed with her at the airport. He watched as she checked her luggage, bought her a quick dinner at one of the airport restaurants, and waited with her at the boarding gate.

“Now boarding for Flight 1183,” an airline official announced over the public address system. “Please have your boarding pass ready.”

“Well, this is my flight,” Celeste said, reaching down to pick up her carry-on bag.

Jonathan was quicker and handed it to her, his fingers lingering over hers. “I noticed that you are taking your computer with you. If you get a chance, let me know that you are okay. Call me collect if you have to.”

“Jonathan, I’ll be fine,” she protested, readjusting the bag’s strap on her shoulder.

“Yeah, I know, but it would make me sleep easier.” He paused, embarrassed by the admission. “Anyway, let me know when you are coming back and I’ll met you here, okay?”

Celeste nodded. “I promise to contact you when I can. Later,” she said softly and headed toward the boarding gate.

“See ya,” he called to her retreating form. He watched as she quickly went through the line. As she got her boarding pass back, Celeste paused to wave at him and then boarded.

He stayed long enough to watch the plane take off. As he walked through the airport alone, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was very wrong in Tokyo. He hoped that Celeste would be all right.