GO, DIE & COME BACK

CHAPTER 8: TOO MUCH

A week later, when she was not able to tolerate it anymore, she went to Matt after they had dinner. They were in their bedroom. "Matt, I need to tell you something." She confessed.

"Is that the thing that is troubling you?"

She looked stunned. Matt continued, "I can say this by seeing your facial expressions over the past few weeks. There is something that is eating you from inside."

"Yes, there is."

"So, what are you waiting for? Share it with me." He tried to make her comfortable.

Despite Matt's effort to make it easy for her, she couldn't help it. "Matt. It's not that easy. I'm afraid that this secret can take you away from me. You may even lose your mind."

"Nina, please. We promised to share everything with each other." Then he paused. "Actually, I haven't told you one thing."

Nina stood there, shocked. "First, I'll say." Matt said. "I'm not the only son of my father. I had an older brother too." Nina was listening unblinkingly. "I was no match for him in anything, but one day something terrible happened." Then he narrated the entire history that his father told him when he was eighteen. Matt told Nina everything—what Bran did, how he was taken to prison, sentenced to life imprisonment—Sir Eric had disowned him, and then Matt was his only son. "I'm so sorry, Nina. I couldn't tell you all this earlier." And he started weeping. Nina hugged him tightly, trying to console him. She also began sobbing with him. "Don't worry. Everything is fine." She consoled him.

"What do you have to say?" Matt inquired while wiping off his tears.

Nina stopped crying and sighed. "I can't, Matt."

"Look at me." Their eyes met. "Do you trust me?" Matt asked.

"Yes, I do." She whispered.

"Please tell me what it is."

She paused, gathered courage, and let that secret out.

"Years ago, I eloped with a man I loved." She stopped, wiped her tears, and continued, "We used to meet in the park. I had fallen in love with him at first sight. My family didn't like him at all, and I was never going to leave him. He helped me run away one night. We dreamt of building our own world in some place, and we built it. We were married in church. Just two of us were present there. We vowed to protect each other. Then one day, my father found me. He had hired a lot of people to find us and even gave them a fortune to bring me back. Those monsters dragged me out of our home. They also beat him like a dog. Then they pushed me into a car and drove me away. I saw him lying there, immobile. He was alive but bruised terribly. A few hours later, I was home. Nobody has hurt me anymore. Father didn't speak to me for a long time, but as days passed, life returned to normal. Neither I nor he tried to find each other again. That story was dead and buried deep. He must be dead somewhere, because he could never live without me. Now I found you." She looked at Matt and was unable to say anything anymore. Matt jumped and hugged her. He put her head close to his heart. "I understand the circumstances you have gone through. From now on, there will be no turning back. From now on, it is only going to be you and me. From now on, no one of us will be pondering our pasts anymore. From now on, we are going to start our new, loving, and peaceful life." They both laughed, and Matt kissed her forehead. That new moon night with no light brought a new light of hope into their lives. That night, they had a peaceful sleep.

*  *  *

The next day, Matt was roaming the busy street market, looking for someone. A lady came behind him and said, "Looking for me?"

"Why did you call me here?" There was anger embedded in his voice.

Victoria replied, "To tell something secretive about your loving wife."