Contagious lies

27 | A promise

Ezhil Sirju

He slept peacefully in his bed. Recovering from his injuries. I couldn't help but stare at him, afraid that he might vanish from thin air. Leon in the dark corner of the room had his arms crossed. I could hear his unspoken words from where I was standing. He refused to bring me with him when he found out what happened to Marco. Told me that it's unsafe and that I should stay with Ginevra instead. It took me begging and pleading with him to stand right beside Marco's bed.

"You have to go back now, Ezhil." He starts again causing me to frown.

I sigh at his words. "Can't I just stay for one more day?"

Leon now approached me, the playfulness in his voice gone. "I defied him once, Ezhil, I won't do it again. With him in that state your safety is in my hands. If something happens to you, that will be on me." He repeats the words I had heard multiple times ever since I decided to follow him.

"Was it really a simple accident?" My question escaped my lips, my shaky voice not going unnoticed. Perhaps I wasn't even sure if I wanted an answer to my question. Marco laid there so peacefully, right now he didn't seem to have any worries or troubles but I knew better.

"He walked into Mr Reed's trap just so he could have the upper hand. As we are speaking the man probably thinks he didn't make it."

My eyes water as my gaze is fixated on the man unconscious in bed. Willing to gamble with your life, so he could have the upper hand. Marco was crazy, completely out of his mind. Maybe there was more that played into his decision that I right now can't seem to understand but he could have died, and that to me was the worst possible outcome.

"We leave first thing in the morning, Ezhil." Leon informed me before leaving me alone with Marco.

I slowly approached his bedside, my hands hovered above his face but eventually found its way on to his cheeks. Caressed him slowly, traced every single feature, almost afraid I'll ever forget what he looked like. Made sure to remember every birthmark that graced his face, in case I forget.

Marco's hand slowly wraps around mine, his closed eyes now wide open. Staring so intensely at me I ended up losing the staring contest and averted my gaze.

"I thought you wanted me gone." I whispered softly,
breaking the silence that surrounded us both.

He pulls me closer to him. "I believed that's what you wanted, Ezhil."

He was right, at some point I desperately wanted to stay away from him. Run from the possible danger lurking into the darkness. Afraid that once I make a decision I won't be able to go back on my word. Once I decided being separated from him was no longer one of my wishes, I'll be stuck in a world that I didn't want anything to do with.

It was all too confusing, I didn't want to be part of whatever organization Marco is part of. Yet it's a package deal, I can't pick him without expecting a life without angst and danger.

"I was unsure...I was scared. I-I didn't know how much this might change my life, but I realized it was far too late for that." I admitted loudly and Marco pulled me into the bed with him. Afraid I might hurt him I kept my hands to myself. Which Marco didn't approve of. He takes me into his arms. Buried my face inside his chest as his other hand rested on my back. This was the first time we have ever been this close yet it felt so right.

"I understand why you're hesitant to leave with Leon but I promise I'll come back for you Ezhil." He whispered in my ear.

I looked up to meet his eyes, he was sincere. His voice is laced with honesty and for a split second I imagined our life together. Theodore and Elias running around the house, waking us up. Getting to make them breakfast and bring them to school. Raising them with Marco, getting to see him be an amazing father and perhaps husband.

"You promise?" I whispered barely above a whisper.

Marco nods his head eagerly. "I promise."

The next day I woke up beside him. Sleeping peacefully, I kissed his forehead as I slipped out of bed. Tiptoed towards the bathroom to get myself ready for the day. Once I opened the brown wooden door I was met with Leon. His arms crossed waiting for me. I sighed at the sight and glanced behind me for one last time.

I entered the car with sadness filling my entire body. Goodbyes have always been painful, especially when I didn't know when I'll ever see him again. He promised he would come back for me but when would that be?

A week, a month, perhaps a year?

It troubled me, it troubled me so much to be separated from him, yet it was left with no choice.

Ginevra's house came into view and slowly Leon parked the car on the side of the road. I couldn't bring myself to step out of the car. Nor could I bring myself to say goodbye to Leon. He would be watching me from a distance, I knew that for a fact. However, I felt displeased, which was rather funny since I was the one that didn't want anything to do with him in the first place.

"Well..." Leon's voice brought me out of my thoughts. Curiously I looked up to meet his eyes. "I don't mind sitting here in silence, however, I fear you will eventually have to go through that door." He spoke as he stared at Ginevra's small white house.

He was right, I probably should get going yet it's as if my feet were stuck in one place. Refusing to move or perhaps let go.

"I should probably get going." I agreed with him, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Could update me on how he is doing and remind him to not be so reckless anymore?"

Leon nodded his head and I smiled relieved. My back now turned towards him as I reached out for the door handle. I stopped in my tracks as I remembered something. "Take good care of the boys as well. They can't sleep without Marco around." I reminded him.

"Don't worry, I will take care of everything."

I finally stepped out of the car yet it felt like walking with chains around my legs. Each step felt so unbearably heavy. Once I reached the door I rang the doorbell and by the time Ginevra appeared in front of me tears started to stream down my face. Everything that has happened for the past few months all came back to me. I felt saddened and horrible for my poor decisions.

Ginevra quickly pulled me into a hug. "You don't have to go back now Ezhil, you are safe now." Her attempt at comforting me made me smile through my tears. I pulled away from the hug and stared at her dumbfounded.

"T-That's the issue I fear..." I whispered softly as I walked towards the living room. My hands in my hair as the words I was too afraid to utter finally made its way past my lips. "I want to go back, I want to be with him. It's unsafe and I know that but my feelings weigh more than my fears Gigi. It's almost as if he has bewitched me to the point of being unable to think clearly." I confessed to her.

Her eyes wide as she stares at me. She was taken back by my sudden outburst. I mean who wouldn't be, this was out of character. Never have I willingly ran into danger. Between the both of us, she was much more likely to be irrational.

"Come on Ezhil, don't you think this is for the best? After all that has happened? The shootings, the killings? Was none of that a wake up call? Please don't say that you want to be with him...t-." She looked around the room in search for the best word that fitted him. "That criminal." Ginevra finishes as she frowns at me.

"I don't know Ginevra, but one thing I do know with certainty is that I feel the safest in his arms. The news of him getting into a car accident brought me to my knees." I whispered softly.

Marco was indeed a criminal but I am in love with him, so what did that make me?

Insane?

There is no other explanation to why anyone would willingly want to be with a criminal. Yet I longed for him. Being in his arms only gave me a glimpse of what our life could resemble in the future.

I had no choice but to hang on to that with desperation. 

A/N

I'm running rather late with this chapter, really my apologies. Lately it's been harder to be on schedule because of University.

Thank you for reading.

Stay safe and healthy,
Heaven