28
After years without comfort, I couldn’t bring myself to ask for it. So I chose to avoid the pain instead.
“Clayton,” I said quietly, “you still owe me a wish, right? Will you take me away from this city?“}
He paused for a second, catching the crack in my voice. Then his tone softened, like he knew I was barely holding it together.”
“I will. I’ll come get you right now, okay?“}
Just then, the sound of Gale’s moans floated down from upstairs, muffled but still sharp in my ears. I thought of the baby I’d lost and of all the secrets, and my heart faltered.
“One week,” I said, trying to steady myself. “Come for me in one week. I’ll explain everything then, just not now.“}
My heart pounded. I knew I was asking for too much. Fortunately, Clayton didn’t say no. And just as I was about to speak again, I heard a voice behind me.
“Shannon. Who are you talking to?”
Startled, my hand jerked, and I fumbled to hang up the call. In my panic, I knocked over the bowl of hot soup on the stove. But remembering I was supposed to be blind, I didn’t dodge. I just let the scalding liquid splash across my arm.
Because of that, the pain tore through me, and I cried out instinctively.
Rusty rushed over, panic flashing in his eyes. He swiftly scooped me into his arms without hesitation and ran to the downstairs bathroom. He didn’t care that the water soaked him as he gently cooled my burned skin.
As he did that, he kept me in his arms.
The warmth I longed for caught me off guard. For a split second, I almost believed he still cared. But then I saw faint bite marks on his neck. And when I peeked into his shirt, I saw several scratches on his body.}
Those were traces of Gale left with his permission.
Nausea rose in my throat. Aggrievement, rage, grief–they all crashed into me at once.
I tried to shove him, but he was stronger. While struggling, tears suddenly streamed down my face. Yet, he still thought it was just the pain from the burn and loosened his grip a bit.
“Shannon,” he murmured, trying to soothe me. “Don’t bite your lip like that. If it hurts, just bite my shoulder like you used to.“}
He then nudged his shoulder toward my face, thinking I’d find comfort there.>
“After this, I’ll apply ointment on you. You hate having scars, right?” he added, as if remembering that little detail would erase his betrayal.” Just a while ago, he was enjoying his moment with my adopted sister, and there he was now, acting like a loyal and sweet husband to
- me.
What was more ridiculous, was that he expected me to bite his shoulder for solace when Gale had already marked it. Merely looking at it already made my stomach turn upside–down, so how could I possibly do what he expected?}
Soon, he was done rinsing my burned arm and loosened his grip to grab the ointment. Seizing the opportunity, I stood up quickly, avoiding his touch, and walked toward the medicine cabinet, leaning on the wall.
“I can handle the ointment myself. Besides, I felt your clothes were soaked. Go change.“)
Once, we’d promised never to lie to each other. Now? Lying was all we had left.”
Rusty stood there, staring at his empty hands like he didn’t know what to do. Maybe he forgot the reason he came downstairs in the first place. He was supposed to bring the stew up for Gale.”
But instead, he rushed toward me and snatched the first–aid kit from my hands.
“It’s my fault,” he said. “I wasn’t thinking. You can’t see, and I promised to be your eyes, to take care of you. How could I let you do this alone?“#
He uncapped the iodine, reaching for my arm again. But I pulled away again and again.”
This time, the panic showed in his face. He wasn’t used to me saying no. I’d never denied him anything before. But now? I couldn’t bring myself to let him touch me.
He tried to smile, a gentle, coaxing smile that looked far too much like the one he gave Gale.M
“Shannon, please. Don’t joke with your health like this. After I finish treating your burn, you can yell at me all you want. Oh! Didn’t you say you wanted to go to the amusement park? I’ll take you tomorrow, okay?”
That voice, that fake sweetness, almost made me forget everything.
In the end, I let him apply the ointment.
But before he could finish, the sound of the Love Bell app from his phone echoed in the room.
And just like that, the little bit of warmth between us vanished into silence.
