Burning Bright

Chapter 35

‘Kate? Hey, what’s up?’

He dumped his jacket on the chair and as I looked up into that beautiful face, the hair swinging forward as he leaned in to kiss me, I knew that my decision was right.

‘Eoin, I don’t think this is going to work out between us.’

‘What?’

‘When the money’s raised, I think you should go.’

‘The money’s been raised.’

‘In that case, there’s nothing to keep you here. I’ll be OK. My parents are coming out. They’ll look after me. I’ll go home from here and stay with them.’

‘Kate?’ I could see the hurt and confusion on his face, but it was better for him this way.

‘It’s been fabulous, Eoin, it really has. But you’ve so much to achieve and . . .’ I couldn’t carry on, the words were clutching at my throat, refusing to leave.

‘You’re dumping me?’ he asked incredulously.

‘Not dumping, but . . .’

‘Why?’

‘Look at me, Eoin! I might never walk again!’

‘You’re dumping me because you “don’t want to be a burden to me”, I suppose?’ I could hear the speech marks in his voice, and also the suppressed anger. I nodded. ‘Christ. I can’t believe you’re doing this. “Setting me free” because you think I won’t be able to cope when life’s shit because I’m a shallow, self-obsessed actor who needs to be protected? You . . . you of all people I thought could see beyond that crap. I thought you knew the real me, Kate, I really did. But obviously I was wrong,’ and he grabbed his jacket and left the room.