London Has Your Eyes

Chapter 75. Daniel

I leave the bathroom while she tidies herself up. Alex asks for a few minutes alone to collect her thoughts, and I don't mind. I go back into the living room. I see a few bloodstains of this bastard on the floor. I grab a rag and quickly wipe them off before Alex returns.

Wrapped in a towel, she enters the room a few minutes later. Her wet hair is gathered into a bun.

- What time is it? - She asks puzzled.

- It's five o'clock in the evening, - I reply. - It's Christmas soon.

- This is not how I imagined it to be, - she hums. - But who cares now? - She shrugs and looks around the room. - I should get ready.

- Get ready? To where? To dinner with me? - I ask.

- What dinner? - She's wondering.

- At my mother's, we talked about it.

- You'll have to make do without me, I have a plane at night. I'm going to Moscow, - she says indifferently.

- How? To Moscow? - I'm a little confused, - on Christmas day? But why today.

- We weren't together. I thought you cheated on me. Max flew away. I didn't want to be alone on Christmas. So I'm going home to see family and friends. I need a break from everything that's been weighing on me lately... - she sighed deeply, staring at the wall, - It's too much, even for me. I have to figure out what to do next.

I get close to her and turn her to me by the chin.

- You will come back, won't you? - I ask hopefully. She nods. - Will you come back to me? - I focus on the last word. She doesn't answer, just stares intently into my eyes. Oh shit! - Alex?

- I need to think this through, Dany. I'm a bit confused. I don't have time to deal with one, as something else comes up. My life has become a minefield. It's like I'm playing a game I don't know the rules to. I'm really tired of it. Of all the noise and pressure on the internet, of all the threats, betrayals and constant suffering. I just want a fresh start!

I pull Alex close to me. She wraps her arms around me and rests her head on my chest.

- Take a break if you need to. But come back... to me. I need you, you know that, don't you? - She nods. - I really don't want to let you go. I'll need to leave for literally 1 hour and then I'll be back. I'll walk you to your plane. I hate to let you go.

- Thank you, - she says. - Will you help me? I'm having trouble with the suitcases. All the time. Whatever I pack my things, they never fit. I hate packing.

I chuckle. It amuses me how this strong woman can be so helpless about simple things.

- Bring the clothes to the sofa, the master will get down to business. It's like a computer game, - I say. Alex throws off her things, and I start packing. Ten minutes later, her suitcase is done.

- There's plenty of space! - She admires, - How could you do that?

I shrug.

- It's a skill. And regular practice, - I say.

I glance at my watch, needing to go.

- Send me a copy of the ticket in the message, darling. If I don't make it here in time, I'll come straight to the airport. But I will definitely be there! - I assure her. I turn around at the doorstep - don't open it for anyone. I love you.

I kiss her quickly and rush out into the street. This is the most incomprehensible Christmas in my life. There's no sense of celebration. And after what happened, this day will never be festive again for me. It's pinched inside. I'm afraid I'm going to lose her. I mean, she might not come back. Yeah, Alex is right, she has a lot on her plate, and most of her problems came from me. Before we met, her life was much easier, safer, and what did I give her?