𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰, R. Cameron (ON HOLD)

000

❝Marcy  ——  Marcy, don't leave, please,❞ Rafe Cameron begs with a familiar tremble in his voice, one the girl often heard minutes before tears would stream down his face, begging  —  once again  —  for forgiveness.

This happens multiple times a week, but this time she is fed up.

❝I can't do this, Rafe! I'm sick of this! It's the same promises over and over and over again! And then we're back at square one within the same week. I've given you so many chances  ——  chances to change, chances to do better,❞ finally speaking her mind is like a breath of fresh air, one she greedily inhales until she's lightheaded and dizzy.

❝I'll change,❞ he sobs, the noise knocking the fresh air from her lungs and leaving her with the old, same stale air. ❝I'll change,❞ he repeats, his lips pinching together afterwards in an attempt to control his uneven breathing.

❝God, I'll change for you! I'll change for you, Marcy!❞ He shouts a moment after silence settles throughout the room, the sound echoing off the walls and making the girl flinch back the slightest bit.

She shakes her head, pressing her palm against her forehead as she continues to shake her head. ❝I don't want you to change for me, damnit! I want you to change for yourself, Rafe! For yourself. For once, just do something for yourself!❞

They're both silent, staring at each other. Rafe's eyes are rimmed with red from the buzz of drugs and alcohol. Marcy's eyes are rimmed with red from the toll of stress and hours of crying. Her cheeks are puffy and her lips are swollen, the bags underneath her eyes prominent under the lights in Rafe's room.

❝I don't know how to change for myself,❞ Rafe says quietly, peeking up at her through his wet lashes as his hand, decorated with a single chunky gold ring, presses against his mouth, his saliva coating his thumb as he nervously gnaws at the nail. Marcy wipes at her nose with the long sleeve of her knitted sweater, nodding.

❝Well, Rafe, until you learn how to, I can't do this anymore,❞ she starts towards the door, being blocked by Rafe who drops his hand from his mouth and frantically grips gently at her clothed arms.

❝No, no  ——  Mar, babe  —  babe,❞ he tries, going to affectionately stroke her cheek like he was so used to doing, but she leans away and shoves out of his arms. ❝I'm serious, now let me leave,❞ she pushes past him, and he can't do anything besides watch her leave the room.

He's behind her once he fully registers she has left the room, following her down the stairs and finding himself struggle to keep up with her. ❝Marcy can we just talk? Please,❞ and he's begging again.

Sarah emerges from the living room, glancing between the couple with a confused look. Sure, the couple argued a lot, but it was always kept behind the closed door of Rafe Cameron's bedroom, and usually was over by the time they both exited it the next day.

❝There's nothing more to talk about, Rafe. Now, if you'll leave me to it, I'll be heading home,❞ before anyone can get another word in, Marcy opens the door to Tannyhill and leaves, closing the door with a soft bang.

❝What was that about? Is she okay?❞ Sarah asks after a moment of watching her brother stare at the door. His eyes snap to her, and without another word he turns on his heel and starts back up the stairs and back to his room.

❝FUCK,❞ he screams it at the top of his lungs, sure the whole island heard him. First his desk chair is flipped over, then a framed picture of him and Marcy connects with the wall, sending shards of glass flying. He clears the items on his desk with one sweep of his arm across the surface.