Painful Redemption | T. R.

Chapter Sixteen

"I consider myself quite adept at minding my own business and not confiding it in anyone, I thought that was clear a long time ago." Tom showed his typical hint of superiority and conceit as he said these words, watching the girl lying on that mattress. "Is it time for confessions?"

Anastasia's back was still to him, looking out the window with half-closed eyes, tears seeming to burn her skin and her head threatening to explode at any moment. At that moment she prayed that Druella would appear at any moment from behind the doors, to drag her away from that little bed. She was the only one who knew everything from the beginning. In a moment of weakness, she had burst into tears before her eyes and told her everything. She had thrown it all out, holding nothing back. Without leaving any detail in the shadows. Her friend, who usually found it hard to show her weaknesses and what she really felt, seemed to switch off at that moment. All the moments they had lived together seemed to pass before her eyes.

For Anastasia's sake, she had promised her that she would not tell the rest of the group anything, and that she would do her best to take care of her in the best way possible and imaginable. However, as the hours, days, months and years went by, that promise was beginning to grow on her. The weight of it in her heart was becoming too heavy, unbearable. She had told Anastasia that sooner or later she would have to talk to everyone about it, but she never felt ready. She kept putting it off, making excuses, saying she simply didn't want to ruin the moment. "Better late than never," Anastasia repeated to herself sometimes, forcing a smile in front of her friends. "The time will come sooner or later."

It had never come. School was ending, soon they would be separated. Each of them would go their own way. Maybe they would meet again in the future, with their children. With a profession, with dreams now realised.

A faint smile was born on the girl's lips. Sad, dull. Even a little forced and bitter. There were so many things wrong with life.

"Atwell?", Tom called after her, closing that book gently. He hadn't been paying attention since the beginning anyway, and it was simply a spur-of-the-moment excuse that was clearly having its effects. But there was a hint of concern in his tone of voice. Whether it was true or false, Anastasia couldn't know that. "Are you okay? Do you need me to call the doctor?"

She tightened her lips for a second, suppressing a small sob. "Jonah... Jonah Mulciber, he's your best friend. Isn't he? Your closest acquaintance."

Tom wrinkled his nose. His legs were crossed, his elbow against the overhang of the chair he was sitting in. He brought a hand under his chin. "I suppose you could call him that. What does Mulciber have to do with this secret of yours?"

For a moment the idea of letting it go flashed through her mind. If she knew she couldn't totally trust someone like Tom Riddle himself, at the same time she didn't want to think about it too much. He was in pure conflict between mind and heart, a battle in which he did not know which side to take. Anastasia felt that, one way or another, both options were wrong.

"I want you to be honest with me."

"I can't promise you anything," he confessed, his lips bent to one side in a sadistic smile as he straightened his back and leaned in a little further, wanting to push himself further.

With one hand, the girl rubbed her eyes slowly, wiping away those bitter tears with annoyance. Weakness had never been her hallmark. "Give it a serious try," she insisted, swallowing the lump that tingled in her throat. She was simply stalling, looking for an excuse not to. But at the same time she wanted to. She had to. "I know you're not exactly the most loving person there is," she began, and at that moment Tom simply tilted his head and raised his eyebrows. The girl hadn't been lying, after all. "But try to imagine this, even for a moment. And don't lie, please. What would you do if you knew he might leave at any moment, unexpectedly?"