Short Story Collection

No More

When I saw him walk through the door at my sister's wedding, I almost threw up. I hadn't seen him for three years, not since...

I bowed my head, my breath catching in my throat as I silently begged his eyes not to fall on mine.Apparently, whatever greater being that heard my prayers decided, as usual, to ignore my pleas. My uncle's eyes raked across the room intently. When their cold grey gaze fell on me, the smirk that spread across his face sent chills down my spine. I could still feel his hands on me, touching me, hurting me. I'll never forget what he'd done. I don't think anyone could.

Of course, the constant assault had stopped when I'd turned eighteen; I'd gotten too old for him by now. His smirk remained as my cousin, Charlotte, walked up to introduce herself. I know why she did it—being sixteen and having a handsome older man walk in alone, obviously looking for someone to talk to plus my overly flirtatious cousin was a disaster in the making. The thought of the two of them, even though not technically related by blood, was sickening. The things he would do to her...

I had to do something to stop him. I watched him stare at my cousin. I could see the same gleam in his eyes that he'd had when we'd met at my parents' anniversary dinner seven years ago. My father's best friend, his soul brother. We were never actually related, thank God. That still didn't assuage my fears. I steeled myself, knowing what needed to be done; he'd been with other girls after me, I knew.But there was no way I could let him hurt sweet, innocent Charlotte. Jaw set with determination, I strode across the chapel to where the two of them stood by the doorway.

"Charlotte," I interrupted their conversation and shameless flirting. "Melissa's been looking for you. Wouldn't want to keep Bridezilla waiting."

Charlotte glared at me, pissed that I'd interrupted her pick-up attempt, but left soon without another word. As soon as she'd moved out of earshot, my fake smile dissipated and I stared Nathan down with a glare that held the contempt of two years spent as his little plaything.

"Bridezilla?"he joked, completely unfazed. "Come on. Melissa can't be that bad. You were always the bad—"

"You need to leave. Now."

He shot me a patronizing look. "Or what? You and I both know why you never told anyone about us, pet. You liked it."

""I sleep with a gun under my pillow. I have for three years. And you know what else?" I added, pitching my voice to a whisper. "I've carried one on my hip every day for two. Don't test me,Nathan. Leave. Now. And never come back into my life."

"Or you'll shoot me?" he laughed. "Come, love. We both know you couldn't--"

"We both know I would. I will. For two years, you tortured me. You raped me. You took advantage of a fourteen year old girl who had no idea what was happening. And you won't do it again. Not to me, or my family.Try your little game ever again, and I'll shoot you in the lungs. I will watch you drown in your own blood." Tears—sourced from anger and pain—streamed down my face, but my voice never wavered.

Nathan only stared fora moment, agape. He glanced around nervously to see if anyone had overheard our conversation before fixing his eyes on me one last time. Finally, after what seemed like twice the entire length of time I'd known him, Nathan turned and left the church—and my life—forever.