Antecedent

by Susan Stumpf

  Months passed and Bo was right. We did speak almost weekly via email or an occasional text. It was almost always business. I think I would actually rather him be gone, out of my life completely because every time I heard from him it just reminded me how much I missed him. I started helping Li in the store. I still knew nothing about antiques but I knew how to use the register, and I was able to do inventory by myself now. Bo had taken Thor and Loki with him so there was no need to go downstairs. There were too many memories down there anyway. Wu still hadn't returned and we didn't know why. We didn't say it but I think Bo and I both feared the worst. I think Li was holding on to hope that his grandson was still alive out there somewhere.

  Brian had gotten a new girlfriend and as was usually the case, his girlfriend was jealous of me. We rarely got to see each other or hang out unless we were in a group. No more one on one game nights. I can't say that I blamed her, though. I don't think I'd want my boyfriend going over to some girl's house late at night and staying for hours.

  I felt depressed and alone. Wu was gone, Bo was gone, and Brian was occupied. I went over to Li or Esther's regularly for dinner or tea. One time the three of us got together for a game of Scrabble. That was a riveting time, as you can imagine.

  Esther wasn't taking Bo's absence well at all. She looked great for ninety-six but I think I watched her age ten years in just the few months he was gone. I came to her house one day for tea like we planned, but she didn't answer the door. I came in to check on her, and she was lying in her bed clutching the picture of her and Bo. She was dead. When the paramedics came they asked who the picture was of. I told the truth when I said it was the only man she ever loved.

  This event set something off in me. I didn't want to hurt; I didn't want to miss Bo. I didn't want my heart to be broken ever again. I'd experienced more than my share of heartache in my life, and I didn't want anymore. I didn't want to die an old woman in my bed of a broken heart. I wanted to be like Bo and not feel things the way mortals did. That gave me an idea?it took me a few months but I finally found what I was looking for. I finally tracked down an Antecedent.