London Has Your Eyes

Chapter 76. Daniel

We go out on the porch, and Liam takes out a pack of cigarettes and hands it to me. The snowstorm has stopped, the wind doesn't let up. I lift the collar of my coat and smoke.

- Have you seen Paul? - I ask Liam. - My mother brought him in especially for Alex.

I'm so angry.

- Oh, yeah? Decided to deport her out of the country? - Liam grins.

- Yeah, can you imagine? I knew when I saw him, it was for a reason. When will she leave me alone and stop meddling in my life? Maybe move to another country. Maybe I should go to Russia for Alex?

Liam squints at me and takes a puff:

- Don't do anything rash, Dany.

A car parks across the street, cutting through the darkness with its headlights. The door opens and I see a painfully familiar face. That's the last thing I need right now!

- Hi, honey, - the girl says, - did you miss me?

I suck in my breath noisily, trying not to throw all my anger at her.

- What the hell are you doing here? - I bark. - Wasn't my car enough for you?!

She smiles slightly and puts her hands out in front of her as if in surrender.

- Relax, I just brought you a Christmas present, - she says, handing me a paper bag.

- Keep your presents, get out of here, - I say a little louder.

She's still smiling, looking at me with such adoration, like I've just showered her with compliments.

- You're so cute when you're angry. At least have a look, - she dips her hand into the bag and pulls out a big frame. There's a picture of me and her kissing. What? - Look how happy and in love we are.

I turn around, silently asking Liam. "The bachelor party, we were dead drunk," he reminds me. I start to remember. How we got drunk at the bar, then she was walking clearly towards me and then she sucked up. And a flash, there was a flash, but we didn't go to check it out.

- I'm going to hang it in our flat, - she says dreamily.

I lean towards her and ask:

- Are you stupid? Ow! What are you talking about? What "our flat"? Get away from me, leave my girlfriend alone. Get lost! - I'm screaming. Everything I've been trying to hold back is pouring out, and I'm not fighting it.

- Your girlfriend? It's not like she's forever...- she mumbles.

I grab her elbow tightly:

- What did you just say?! If you ever go near her again, or write to her, or call her, I will get you out of the ground, and believe me, you won't like it very much! Get out of here! Fuck off... and take your shitty present with you too!

I throw the frame on the road, and the glass shatters. Her eyes get wet as she kneels down and gently pulls out the picture, stroking it. It's as if the picture can feel pain.

- Why are you doing this to me? - She howls, choking with tears. - I love you. I'm the only one who truly loves you, no one else. You promised me, you promised we'd be together!

- Bullshit, - I say, - Liam, let's go. There's no point in wasting time with her.

The girl stands up abruptly and leans against me. She stares frantically into my eyes, searching for something.

- You promised you'd come back to me, that we'd always be together!

I pull her hands away and push her aside.