A Deal With the Devil

7

I couldn't speak. I couldn't move. I couldn't breathe. The man I trusted the most and felt the safest thing around was lying to me. He was a killer, a terrorist, a menace to Hell’s Kitchen, a liar, a lawyer, a man who always appreciated the coffee I made for him, a man with a very cute smile…I sighed and turned away. I couldn’t face him anymore. I sat down and pulled my knees to my chest.

“How, Matt?” I asked. “How could you lie to us? To me?”
“I’m sorry.”

“No, Matt,” I chuckled bitterly. “I’m afraid ‘sorry’ doesn’t cut it anymore.”

I stood up abruptly and faced him this time.

“They’re calling you a terrorist, Matt!” People want you dead.” I cried.

“Do you believe them?” He asked.

I sighed.

.    “I don’t know.”

    “I know you wouldn’t do these things, but he does. I’m confused, Matt.” I looked away. 

    “Matt, I care about you. I want you to be safe because I do. And now I’m hearing that you’re putting yourself in danger every single night. It hurts, Matt. It hurts because you’re doing this alone. This doesn’t make sense. This isn’t you, Matt. But how do I even know who you are?”

    We were silent for a moment. I didn’t even notice I was crying until I saw myself in the reflection in the window behind him. 

    “I… don’t know what to say, Sasha. I didn’t mean to betray your trust. I’m so sorry. I really hate seeing you like this knowing that you are because of me. But you have to understand, I can’t just tell people this. This isn’t news that people take well. I didn’t want to get you hurt because of me.”

    “But you were willing to lie to your friends and people you ‘cared’ about for the whole time they knew you. How can you justify that, Matt? You’re selfish! I don’t even know who you are anymore!” I sobbed.

    There was silence again. It felt so much more suffocating than yesterday. This was too much for me to handle, and I wanted to run away. Far, far away from everything that I’d just heard. But I couldn’t bring myself to leave him. I loved him.
    “I worry about you, Matt. If I can’t stop you from getting hurt, then please let me help you when you are.”

    “I don’t want you to get hurt too.” He responded.

    “Well that sucks, doesn’t it? Because I don’t care. I want to take care of you when you come home bloodied and beaten. You don’t get to do this alone anymore.” I figured it was time to be assertive.

    “Thank you, Sasha.” He hesitated. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I just didn’t want to hurt you.”

    Another silence ensued, but I could finally breathe.

    “Matt, tell me something. And be honest.” I began. “Do you kill people?”

    “No.”

    “That’s where you draw the line?”

    He nodded.

    I stared at him for any trace of a lie. I couldn’t find any. He was better than me. The so-called “Devil of Hell’s Kitchen” was more moral than I was. 

    I couldn’t muster the courage to speak.

    “Okay.” I whispered.”

    “I’m sorry.” He mumbled back.

    “It’s okay. Just promise me you’ll let me be there for you.”

    He sighed.

    “Okay.”

    We shared each other’s embrace on the floor. We were broken, but we were healing. Together. And with him, regardless of how alone I felt, I knew that I wouldn’t be. We were not alone anymore.
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Sorry for the short chapter, but I didn't wanna leave yall hanging so here you go 💪