The Ways in Which I Die (COMPLETED)

CHAPTER 19: "YOU SHOULD HAVE CHOSEN ME."

ANTHONY

 “Do you wanna go out somewhere to celebrate?” Summer asks as she closes the refrigerator door. “Hope just texted to see if we wanted to get dinner, and we don’t really have much food here.”

“I’m kinda tired,” Anthony replies absently, keeping his eyes trained on the small token in his hand. He’s still having trouble wrapping his mind around it. He is now leaving therapy. His mind is set now. His heart had found a safe place to rest and that’s all he needed, and all he’ll ever need. “You and her can go out though.”

“Are you sure?” Summer asks and comes to sit down next to him on the couch. “It’s your big night, I can stay and hang out here with you if you want.”

“No, it’s fine. You can go out with Hope,” Anthony says. “We can hang out when you two get back. I'm just really tired, and my chest is acting, you know, so I guess I'll sleep it off”

“Okay, I’ll bring you some take out.”

“Sounds good,” Anthony says with a smile.

“I love you,” Summer says with a fond smile and kisses him before hopping up off the couch. “Call me if you change your mind and want me to come back, and help yourself to anything you want.”

“Thanks, Sam. I love you too okay? Don't forget that, I care for you”

“Are you sure you don’t want me to stay?” She asked, a little sad and disappointed

“Yes, go have some fun with Hope.”

“Okay, I’ll see you later then.” Summer runs one hand through his hair on her way out.

“I love you!” Anthony calls after her.

“Love you too!” She calls back as the apartment door closes.

"I love you more than you'll ever know Sam"

Anthony lets out a heavy sigh and swings his legs up onto the couch. Part of him wishes he’d told Summer to stay and that they were both curled up asleep on the couch together right about now, but he knows it’s been a while since she and her roommate have had a night out, so he’s fine with spending a few hours alone.

 ~~~~~

Anthony is pulled out of his nap by someone knocking persistently on the apartment door. 

“I’m coming,” he groans, blinking his eyes a few times as he stumbles to the door. “I’m coming, just hang on.”

Anthony unlocks the door and opens it. 

“What, did you forget your-” Anthony breaks off as his eyes meet Sunset’s. She has tears streaking down her red cheeks and she looks like she hasn’t slept in days. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m sorry,” she chokes and runs the back of her hand over her nose. “I know you don’t want to see me, but I need your help, Anthony.”

Anthony swallows back the lump in his throat, he’s half tempted to close the door in the woman’s face, but against his better judgment, he leaves it open. “What do you want?”

“I- I think my boyfriend is trying to kill me,” she sobs. “He tried to- oh Anthony it was so awful… I’m sorry…”

Anthony’s stomach twists out of pity. He wouldn’t wish the various beatings he’d gotten on anyone, not even his worst enemy. Not even her.

“Did you try calling the police?” Anthony asks swallowing back his panic.

“He’s a police officer, it won’t do anything.”

“Did he follow you here?” 

“I don’t know,” she says frantically. “Please, just don’t leave me out here alone.”

Anthony bites the inside of his cheek until it bleeds and clenches his fist to stop it from shaking too much.

“You can come in for now until you can come up with a plan, then you need to go.”

“Oh thank you so much!” Sunset breathes and moves into the apartment as he steps aside. He closes the door behind her.

“You can sit in one of the kitchen chairs. I’m gonna go call Summer,” Anthony says, it takes all of his strength just to stop his voice from shaking.

“Don’t do that,” Sunset whines. “She’ll make me leave and then he’ll find me.”

Anthony lets out a shaky sigh. He knows she’s right which is part of the reason he wants to call Summer. He sets his cell phone down on the arm of the couch and decides not to doom Sunset to the same fate he’d suffered many times.

“Okay, but she’s going to come home soon, so I’d suggest you come up with a plan before then.”

“We could run away,” Sunset says hopefully. “You could protect me, now that I know what I did it won’t happen again.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you,” Anthony says quietly.

“But he’ll kill me if he catches me alone,” she pleads.

“I’m not going with you. We’re over Sunset. I’m with Summer now, and I am happy. ”

“You could be happy with me,” she says softly. “I miss you so much Anthony. I promise I won’t hurt you ever again, just please come with me.”

“No,” Anthony snaps. “The very fact that you had to tell me you won’t hurt me again is proof enough that I shouldn’t go, besides, I love Summer now, not you.”

A frown comes across Sunset’s face and she grips her small handbag a little tighter.

“Just come with me, please. I miss you Anthony. I need you!”

“But I don’t,” Anthony says firmly.

“What?” She sounds shocked and hurt.

“I don’t need you anymore, in fact, I never needed you, and I don’t miss you. I’m happy you’re not in my life anymore. I know that may sound harsh, but it’s true. I love Summer. Not you, and I’m not going anywhere with you."

"But-"

"There isn't an abusive boyfriend, is there?” Anthony demands, knowing he's been played. "You just needed an excuse for me to let you in."

Sunset shakes her head miserably, her face pinched up and hateful. “You’re still as gullible as the day we met.”

“You need to leave,” Anthony says between clenched teeth, cursing himself for trusting her… again.

Sunset doesn’t say anything else. She seems to just close in on herself as she stares blankly down at the hardwood floor of the apartment.

Anthony shakes his head and grabs his phone off the arm of the couch. He’s in the process of unlocking it when a bone chilling click sounds next to his ear and something cold and metallic presses against the side of his head sending a shiver down his spine. He can see Sunset standing next to him just out of the corner of his eye. 

“You should have chosen me.”

The deafening bang next to his ear is the last thing he hears

"Anthony"

"Mommy?"