Light In My Darkness

33

"What happened that day?" His eyes were darting onto mine, a wall of protection that I feel whenever he's around was crumbling when his hand where I found my truce after months mine plopped down bouncing slightly.

He glanced at his hand on my lap before his eyes flew back meeting mine.

"I want the truth, Raine, only the truth."

My hand flew up towards my chest in an attempt to control my erratic breathing as I press myself deeper into the fluffy cushion with my eyes shut tightly, but my traumatized brain flashed things prevailed that night.

***

The hour hand of my wristwatch stood exactly at number one, I glimpsed at the inebriated person seated beside me, who blew some air into her palm that we're cupped and gagged at the smell of alcohol

Lilly.

'Huh!? Liam's ruby ring disappeared? wait, you discarded it.' She gasped staring at my finger. 'Oh, my bad, loyalty cannot be expected from a greedy and a filthy little bitch like you.' She grits throwing my hand away.

Wiping my wet face with trembling palms, I strode towards the other side after parking the car outside her home to help her tipsy self but she was quicker than I expected.

'Don't touch me!' She yelled thrusting me against the car.

'Agh,' I wince as my elbow hits the cold metal with a thud.

She waddled through the front gate and the doors of her room were slammed open.

I followed her silently.

'Oh, darling why are you out there...come in, come, come.' She waves back and forth walking towards me with wobbling feet and drags me forcefully towards the full-length mirror scowling at my reflection.

She glues her face with mine frowning wildly. 'What's so fucking wonderful in you that keeps my Ian enchanted?' Why does he prefer a filthy rag like you?' She slurred tracing her finger, the sharp nails of her dug into my skin painfully.

I wish for all of my scenes to betray me. Every word flowing out of her was burning me just the way the acid burns the delicate velvety red rose.

She gasps covering her lips, 'You're a witch! aren't you? You've bewitched him!'

'Lilly, stop. Please stop. Not you, I couldn't withstand these words out of you.' That was all I said turning towards the door, I can't take it anymore.

'Right here,' I twirl around hearing her, 'it was right here, on this day, a few years ago, in this very room Ian crushed me, declined my years of unconditional, untamed love for him.' She whispered a wave of guilt and helplessness washed over looking at her vulnerable state.

'I know.... I can't force Ian to give back what I feel for him.' She mumbled, 'but, I yearn to be you, to witness his compassion, his tenderness, the care he shows to you, only you,'

I tried holding her hand but ended up aggravating her.

'I said don't touch me!' She screamed. 'You weren't here that day, yet his mesmerizing eyes were fixed solely on you.' She cried.

'Absurd, Lilly, we've never met before this incident!'

As a reply, she cages my chin into a death hold slanting my face towards the wall where an enormous photograph of us was dangling gracefully.

'It felt like he has finally found his home in you.' She wept flumping on the bed.

I couldn't help but cover my mouth with my sweaty palm, I was petrified, her confession frightened me to the core.