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The nights were the hardest. Molly was constantly having a hard time falling asleep, and tonight was no different. Living out of the van was miserable. It was hot, cramped, and worst of all, it was lonely. She had her parents and Darryl, but someone was missing. Her support, her best friend.
She needed Scratch.
Molly decided to get a breath of fresh air. Careful as to not wake up her family, she snuck out of their “campsite” situation and retreated to a less crowded portion of the trees. She felt the grass with her hands to make sure it was dry before sitting down, looking up at the solemn, still, clouded sky. The moon was hidden, not visible to her, but the small light it emitted revealed the grayish color of the clouds.
Molly squinted at the sky. Was it always this dull? Being unable to make out cloud shapes or even stars, the loneliness started to sink in. Ever since Molly moved to Brighton, she never had to be alone. Now she was reminded of the feeling.
Molly pulled out her ponytail, letting her hair fall to her shoulders, so she could fidget with the elastic. She brought her knees to her chest and hugged them, her fingers twiddling the hairband. She hadn’t been this alone in ages. She began to think about Scratch. Think about what they’d be doing at this hour if they were together. Playing games, preparing midnight snacks, or maybe even just talking and sharing secrets.
Molly’s shoulders started to shake. It’s cold this late at night. It’s cold to be this alone. The warmth that usually comes with a best friend was replaced by an aching, freezing sorrow. She felt tears prick at her eyes, and squeezed them shut to try and ground herself.
She started to remember the previous times she had cried. She had never considered herself sensitive, or a crybaby, but maybe she did often. Scratch was always there to relax her whenever she did.
Tears began to roll off her face. In copious amounts, they pooled at the bottom of her chin before falling in a mocking manner.
Scratch wasn’t here anymore. She had to leave him. He’s gone. Were they even best friends anymore? Molly could tell she was getting to an unreasonable headspace but couldn’t stop. She sobbed into her hands, letting her tears accumulate into her palms. She shook her head. Her chest rose and shook with each struggle of a sob.
“Molly?”
A voice ripped her from her thoughts. She turned to see a familiar blue glow contrasting with the darkness.
“S-Scratch?” Molly called weakly. She wiped her face and sat up to hide the state she was in, quickly trying to collect herself. “What are you doing here?”
“It’s late,” he said, shrugging. “There’s no one to scare away from the house tonight.”
“So you…came to visit me?”
“I guess you could say that.”
“O-oh,” Molly said, painfully aware of how her voice shook as he floated to her side. She turned her head away from him, suddenly embarrassed.
Scratch seemed to be aware of this, as well. He floated in front of her, making himself eye level with her and took a gentler tone. “Hey, Mo? Is something wrong?”
“What? No! Everything’s great,” she sniffled, unconvincingly smiling at her best friend, who wore an uncharacteristically concerned expression.
He pushed Molly’s hair out of her face, revealing her tear stained cheeks. He gently cupped the sides of her face into his hands. Despite the cold feeling, she leaned into his familiar touch. “Have you been crying?”
“C-crying? Nuh-uh, everything's a-okay here! I just-”
“Molly…I know you. I can tell somethings wrong.” He watched her eyes dart from his, avoiding contact. “Is it…because of what’s happening with the house…?”
Molly’s bottom lip quivered before she burst into tears again.
Scratch was startled, but immediately wrapped his arms around the young girl as she cried against him. “Hey, hey, It’s okay, Moll! There’s no reason to cry! Everything’s gonna be okay, you’ll get to move back into your house in no time, I promise!”
“It’s n-not that,” Molly sobbed hysterically, “I just…I miss y-you…I m-miss you so m-much!”
“I know, kid, I know,” Scratch hushed her, pulling her away to look reassuringly into her eyes. He wiped away her tears as they fell down her face. “I miss you too. More than you could ever know.”
She tried to speak more, let out all of her heart’s greatest woes, but all that came out were shaky, broken sobs. Scratch understood every attempted word, mutter, and breath, continuing to brush away her streams of tears.
Her heart ached. It twisted and strained itself, sick in the loneliness and cruelty of abandonment. But somehow, deep in the abyss of her agonizing heart, there was hope. There was a bit of warmth and love that, against all odds, pressed on. With the encouragement of Scratch’s whispers, the flame of her heart reignited and burned. Scratch was still here. Hes not gone. He’s wiping her tears, holding her hand, reminding her to take deep breaths. Molly slowly started to calm down, letting her eyes close and beginning to rest into Scratch’s reassurance.
The two sat in silence, with the occasional sniffle on Molly’s end, followed by a calming hum on Scratch’s.
“Are you okay?” He gently tried.
“Y-yeah, its just…” She exhaled. “You’re my best friend…I don't wanna be apart anymore,” she whispered softly against his ectoplasmic hand.
“Oh, I know. I know it’s hard,” he chuckled, “It’s been…really quiet, to say the least.” Molly smiled and sank into Scratch’s embrace, his arms open and waiting for her. “But I promise, everything will work out in the end. We’re..McGees, after all. We never give up.”
“Hmm,” she smiled softly, “you’re a McGee.”
Scratch didn’t say anything in response. He didn’t need to. All that mattered was there were together and they both understood.
“I love you.”
“Love you too, Scratch.”