Vengeance Is Beautiful

Chapter Thirty-One

Don't do this.

You'll regret it.

He'll be so angry and sad.

You don't break your promises!

All the words bouncing around my head as I stood in the mirror putting on a plaid shirt over my white vest. I sighed and sat on the bed, even though I knew I shouldn't go, something about the way he looked. He looked like a ghost, and he looked beaten down. I'm thinking there's more to him. Something serious. I don't know if it's my pregnancy instincts kicking in or my natural intuition but something's not right with him.

I pick up my bag and throw it over my shoulder, then head out to my car.

When I get there all the reasons not to do this come flooding in, as if my body chemistry just sent them a blanket invitation. As if Lino is already looking at me with disappointment written all over his face.

"Hey, I'm glad you made it".
"Yeah..."
"No - Thank you very much. It must've been hard coming here with everything from our past"

Mac and I were really on and off during our relationships but we were friends before. And he was an amazing friend. He never really understood what I was going through cause I never told him but he stayed there for me. And yes, he made very dumb mistakes but haven't we all?

"Cat, I'm going to die. My kidneys are all messed up and I might not make it until next month. So I just wanted to come and talk to you".

(Please play audio - it gives the sequence more life!)

I bite my tongue, trying to hold the tears that threatened to leave my eyes. He refused to look away, even as his lips trembled and his eyes painted with emotion but somewhere in there amidst my teary eyes, his teary eyes don't look sad. They look hopeful . "Oh Mac", I say resting my hands on his shoulders.

"Is this what you wanted to tell me?" I croak out. He shakes his head and sniffs before sighing heavily and sadly smiling at me, "No".

"How are you so calm?"

"Because I'm looking at it differently than I would've five years ago. It's like I'm reading a book, but I'm reading it slowly now..." As he talks and I listen, I get small flashbacks of our life together.

The good times,

The bad times,