I was once a bubbly, fun loving girl who loved to go out with her best friend and has a picture-perfect family. Until a year ago my life completely fell apart, leaving me behind to pick up the pieces one by one trying to piece it back to how it was...
"Babe, are you home?" I said walking into Savy's house. We were going out to the movies tonight to watch After, she literally roped me into the most boring things ever. But I'd do anything for her
"You forgot to knock Cage." Alisha, Savannah's Mom said
I looked at her surprised, she looked terrible "Alisha? Are you okay?"
Quickly rushed over to her because she was wobbling around the living room. She chuckled lightly"Don't worry about me, Cage. What are you doing here Anyway Savannah isn't home yet. Her shift didn't even end yet."
I looked at her suspiciously Alisha was defiantly hiding something "Alisha, you know you can tell me anything right?"
She smiled lifting her hand to touch my cheek "I've called you my son, haven't I? Of course, I know that I can."
"Then where did you get those bruises from?" Alisha's smile dropped
"Our family has stories that you don't know yet Cage and I shouldn't be the one telling you them either. But you need to promise me something."
"Anything."
"Protect my baby, be her Prince Charming."
My heart skipped a beat, should I tell her my secret? Should I tell her that even if I say yes to her one day I would have to break this promise.
"Cage? Do you promise?"
Taking a deep breath I say "I promise Alisha."
. . . Present . . .
A month before I went, I broke her baby and broke every promise I had made. Despite my distance from her, I made every effort to safeguard her, so I didn't break that pledge. The one thing I was unable to do was love Alisha back, even though I knew everything—including when her father had hit her and when she had died. The issue is that she still loves me despite everything I put her through. Love is unworthy of someone like me, given what I have voluntarily done.
. . . Flashback (The Day I Left) . . .
I ascended to Savannah's room, making every effort to stay away from Alisha. After saying what I was going to say to her daughter, I was unable to face her, and I brushed away a few tears that had trickled out of my eyes. No, sobbing is for the weak, so I'm not able to cry. Leaning against the window, I heard the bathroom door open.
"Cage! What are you doing here so late? You gave me a heart attack."
I got straight to the point not wanting to waste much time with her, not wanting to string her along "I don't have much time Sav, so just listen to me, don't talk."
She smiled gently at me "I am leaving Savy, I need you to keep quiet about me. Don't mention anything about us to anyone, just forget I was here." This was it, this was all the time I had with her.
Her smile dropped and her eyes filled with tears "W-What are you talking about? W-Where are you going? You can't leave me! You said that you love me and that you will never leave me."
Her words were cutting into me like knives "I never loved you, it was all for show. I have no feelings for you."
She looked at me in shock "Stop playing Cage." She turned away from me and started to walk back into the bathroom.
No, this needed to be done now. Yanking her back towards me I say "I'm not paying Savannah. I was playing with you before, I never loved you. I just need something to use for a while you were just too naïve to see through my acting."
She roughly pushed me away from herself "Fuck you Cage, fuck you."
I forced a smirk on my face and said: "Not until you promise me that you won't mention anything about me."
"GET THE FUCK OUT!!" My smirk dropped "I'm going to put my clothes on and if you are not gone by the time I get out. I am calling the police." She stormed back into the bathroom slamming the door closed.
Hearing her sobs through the door, I walked to the floor and leaned my back against the bathroom door; if there hadn't been a door between us, we would have been resting on each other. After hearing some activity in the lavatory, I hurriedly got up to take our picture that was resting on the end table. I stepped outside via the window and took our memories with me as soon as she emerged from the loo. It was the only thing that would save my sanity.
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As soon as I got out of her house my couch/ manager was waiting in the car "Good, now that you're back let's head out to the airport."
Letting out a long sigh "Where are we going now Gio?"
"Cut the attitude Kid before I go back on my word. We are just leaving town for a week and then coming back with your real identity in Fight Night so she won't figure out that you are back."
"Fine, let's just go," I said hiding the photo I stole from Savy's room.
. . . Present . . .
Gio would stop at nothing to eliminate distractions from my profession, therefore I had to leave in order to protect her. I canceled several matches for Savy because I didn't want to expose her to the other part of me that we encountered at Fight Night. She did witness me spar a few times, but I didn't take her very often. I flew about to make sure Gio understood that I was still serious about boxing, and to protect her.
Because our tale will never be finished and will never be as simple as the stories we read as children or as we grow older, loving Savy was never a choice. It's a little more difficult this time. She always smiled and met my devil's eyes. I assumed she would be afraid of me, but she fell for everything. I had been protecting her for the past year, as I promised her mother. Some people are not intended to be together; they are meant to fall in love.
