Excerpt From Coming-Of-Age Debut, Beyond Parallel

[Matthew]

Hi all, I would like to share a short excerpt from my debut novel, Beyond Parallel.

If you like what you read, please consider heading to the Book Page, picking up a copy, and leaving a review :)

***
Alex’s face made her feel sick. He was the person she always turned to, but now he stood there, silent and vacant, and all she could feel was resentment. “What the hell, Alex. What was all that about?”

He remained silent.

“Seriously, I want to know.”

“What? All I said was that I’m going to Australia. This isn’t new.”

“I know it isn’t new, but come on, how can you be so blunt about it? And saying I can do what I like. Since when was that part of the plan?”

A smile spread across his face. “Are you trying to say you’re mad because I’m letting you do your own thing? Because most people would appreciate that.”

“You know what I mean. You know I can’t travel on my own. You gave me an ultimatum with only one option.” She turned her head up to the sky. An orange glow hung over the rooftops, night had nearly set in.

“The hell I did. You have a choice, Bella. You either come with me or stay with him. What do you want me to do? Stay here as you two play house?”

Bella gaped. “No, of course not. I only met him yesterday; how am I supposed to know what I want?”

“A day in the life of Bella is a lifetime—“

“Hey, that’s not fair. I don’t think it’s too much to ask for my best friend to be there for me. Not turn on me around the dinner table.”

He rolled his eyes, which only added to Bella’s anger. “Fine, maybe I shouldn’t have brought it up like that. The point remains the same, though. I want to go to Australia. Would I like you to come with me? Sure, of course I do. But I know you. I see how you look at him and I know it doesn’t matter whether you’ve known him a day or a week or a month. You want to see where it goes, and this time, that can’t include me.”

“So you’d just leave me alone with a stranger?”

“I love how you’re putting this on me,” he said, shaking his head. “What if I do stay? Say I stay a few days as you make up your mind. You’ll still end up choosing him, and what happens to me? Oh yeah, that’s right. I’m all alone traveling Australia. Only a few weeks later than I should be.”

“I wish I knew what was going to happen, because it’s clear you do.”

“I know you, Bella. I know you better than you know yourself. Traveling has made you stronger, but you’re still you. You love to love. At some point, you’ll always go back to it.”

Her eye lids flickered, tears near. “I don’t want to be that girl, especially now. Who’s here to protect me? I only have you. I’m scared.”

“What of? Life?”

“Are you kidding me? You know better than anyone. You know my track record and how this always ends. Yeah, it starts okay, but it’s not long until they change their mind.”

His smile returned. “You’re stronger now. You don’t need to be afraid, but you are who you are. You love to love, and you can only fight it for so long. Do you want to become a person who doesn’t even try?”

Tears dripped down her cheeks. She listened to his words and considered each one. She knew she had grown. What he was saying was true. Yet she couldn’t shift the memories of the past. How her heart was thrust from her, and the only person there to fix it was Alex.

“Look, the choice is yours,” he said. “You’re welcome to come with me, but I’ve got to do what’s best for me this time. I was coming away whether you chose to or not, remember? I’m going…and I’ll be going soon.”

“But I’m scared. I need you—”

“I’ll always be here, but I have to do this, for me, just like you have to do what’s best for you. If you come away with me, you’ll always wonder what if. I know you. I don’t want you to resent me.”

“I never could—”

“But you will. Look, you need to figure out if this guy’s worth it. I can’t help you with that. Not this time.”

His words hit her like bullets. Her entire body ached. Her legs were light and ready to buckle. The conversation drained her, and all it left was confusion. “So that’s it? You’ve made up your mind?”

He took her hand. “Yes. I’m going to book my ticket tomorrow. I think it’s for the best.”

She pulled away, tears dripping down her cheeks. Abandonment and hypocrisy filled her as the words I’ll always be there for you echoed in her ears. She heard each syllable, but they meant nothing.

“I’m sorry. I know you’re mad, but I have to do this. Not just for me, but you, too.”

She rubbed her eyes. “Don’t you dare try and say this is for me. This is for you.”
He shook his head and turned, walking away down the darkened street. Another wave of tears ran down her cheeks as their relationship went with him.


***

Matthew Turner - author of Beyond Parallel