Fallen angel | Zarry

Take it or Leave it

"Every time you take one path, you must live with the memory of the other: of a life left unchosen."

•

*15 years ago*

The dense night out there couldn't even penetrate this building. Too much smoke that torments our eyes and nose. Looking through the smoke, trying to see each other...

''You're crazy about her, man. That's insane...'' David looked at me as he took a sip of his soda ''Just look at you. You're drunk after you haven't been drinking for eight months and I can't believe that it's a coincidence that it happened the exact same night she showed up.''

I took one more sip and wiped my lips with my forearm. ''I'm ok, man. And I can't blame anyone for the things I'm doing but myself. It's not Anne's fault.''

David laughed, throwing his head back and then hitting the edge of the kitchen cabinet. ''Who the hell are you trying to convince? You know pretty well, just as every person in this room, that you two are a big problem to each other, and that won't be solved until you two fuck and get over with it.'' I hit him in his hand, harder than I wanted to. ''Careful. You're walking on thin ice tonight.''

He raised his hands, giving up. ''Ohh, sorry. I forgot like what you become when you're drunk.'' I then grabbed the collar of his shirt, pulling him closer ''Like what?''

He then again raise his hands submissively. ''Des, man, calm down and go drink some coffee or something. You've completely gone crazy.'' I let him go and ran my fingers through my hair, disappointed with something I didn't even know.

''Coffee is a mere fabrication... And I need something else.'' My eyes travelled to the glass of the back door and I suddenly figured out what I need. I patted David's shoulder. ''Get everyone out of before my parents come back home, ok?''

''Yeah, sure.'' he answered confused. ''But, where are you going?''

''To take a walk.'' I shrugged as I turned around and started walking out of the room. Pushing those that came in my way, I finally came out through the back door. I again, finding the balance, crossed the lawn and skipped the fence.

Anne's father's car was parked in the driveaway, which meant that he came back from the bar. Never mind. He won't notice, nor he will care if I sneak inside. I've been doing that since we were kids.

Even tho, my intentions were becoming dirtier as we were growing up.

I was looking up, to her bedroom window, until I got to the tree. Despite being drunk, I managed to climb to the top and little-by-little come to the window. I pressed my hands to the glass, trying to see inside.

The lights were off, but the moonlight left the trace on her bed. She was sleeping tight. I slowly opened the window, cutting my finger on the rusty nail. ''Son of a-'' I put my finger into my mouth, mixing the taste of blood with the bitter taste of vodka on my tongue while I was getting through the window, falling down on the ground with a loud bang.

Her friend suddenly got up from the bed on the floor, her eyes wide opened ''Oh, my God.''

I put my finger on my mouth while I was getting up. ''Pssst...'' She still looked worried, so I tried to confuse her with my most charming smile. It seemed like I have succeeded because she settled in bed again.

I tried to be as careful as I can, crossing her bed and getting next to her. She was always sleeping tightly, without even moving. I pressed my chest against her back, wrapping my hands around her waist and feeling the rhythm of her breathing. God, how much I missed this. That's not normal. I buried my face into the crook of her neck, inhaling the sweet smell of her hair, vanilla mixed up with something only she had.

I closed my eyes and, for the first time in eight months, fell asleep peacefully.

•

*8 years ago*

''But, does it actually matter?''

''Yes, Emily, it actually does matter! Picking side is the only option we got at this moment. I'm sorry, I know you don't want to do it but... It's the only way it can go...'' explaining the situation to a 7 and 8-year-old boy and girl isn't actually the easiest thing ever. They both are smart, too smart for their age actually. But getting to actually understand the whole story is just... well, impossible at some point.

''But, what if-'' Liam stopped, slowly placing his finger on his bottom lip, before starting again: ''What if something goes wrong?'' she looked at me ''What if they'll betray us all? What if they don't even care about us being happy with them, only about us helping them with being more powerful than... God...?''

''It's what they've always been doing, Louis. They've always been like that. Not even caring about other people's feelings. But it's what we gotta do, it's the only way we can get help and... feel free, I guess...?''

''Sorry...'' Anne whispered as she placed a kiss on their foreheads ''We're here for you. Don't worry. If anything goes wrong, we're here... and we're always gonna save you, and your little brother.''

''Always?'' they both whispered as they slowly reached out their hands

''Always'' Anne smiled, pressing her little finger to Emily's and Louis'

''D-dad?'' Emily asked, turning her gaze on her father standing at the door

He laughed, stepping inside and walking closer to the bed. ''Always'' he smiled, reaching out his hand and doing the same thing with his little finger.

''Now, go to sleep'' Anne placed a kiss on their foreheads one last time, slowly caressing Emily's cheek. ''I have a little surprise for you when you wake up...'' she winked at them and covered them with a blanket

''Yayyy'' Emily squealed as she hugged them both ''I love you, mom and dad''

''We love you more, honey. Both of you.''

''Now, sleep. Good night''

''Good night''

And that night, they both fell asleep with huge a smile on their faces. Feeling so happy, and they couldn't wait to see the surprise their parents got for them when they wake up.

The only thing is that... no one knew that that night, it was the last time they ever saw each other...