"He said he loved me. What... What would he get out of lying to me?"
"Everything."
I didn't know what to say.
"He'd get the control he hungers for. He'd be able to use you just like he plans."
They look back at me with fierce eyes, pain and raw emotion flowing between our connected gaze.
"He would get to see you crumble under his fingers."
My mind wishes for it to not be true. But they knew better than I did.
"He would be able to break that thin line you stand on."
My feel shuffle, said line smearing like half-dried ink. It was already deteriorating.
"He gets so, so much out of lying to you, but only if you believe him."
Their eyes glass over. My throat constricts painfully. I let my hands fall into theirs.
"Don't give him your everything," They beg of me, "Please."
I nod, trusting them with everything. Their face relaxes slightly, relief sighing from their lips.
But no matter what I tell my past self, I can't take away the pain I already endured with him.
