Taina
ONE MORE NIGHT
Emiliano sleeps beside me, his breathing even. It sounds like the closest thing I’ll ever experience to a lullaby. But even he can’t put me to sleep right now.
Emiliano ran me a bath when we got home and washed my hair, all while I pressed my cheek into my knees, trying to make myself as small as possible.
He didn’t ask questions, he didn’t do anything except offer comfort, even as I felt his anger simmering beneath his gentle touch.
When he was done, he pulled me into his arms, wrapped me in a towel, and whispered that he loves me. And even though I couldn’t bring myself to say it back, I could feel his truth in everything he did.
In his eyes, I saw sympathy and guilt. But this wasn’t any of his doing. He didn’t do this to me.
A man just like him but still so completely different from him did.
I’ve seen the monster before, many times.
But I’ve always had control in those instances.
I had space, a safe exit, a weapon. Without any of these things, it was like I was right back in hell with him.
And once he finally saw me in person and not potentially on any security footage or knowing I’d been in his home, I knew he’d do his best to terrify me.
And he did.
Once he checked out, he peeked over the register and whispered, “Fancy seeing you here.”
I refused to look up, squeezing my eyes shut as I tried to wish him away. This was all my fault. I should’ve stuck to the plan. I should’ve never gotten close to Emiliano and lost sight of what I needed to do.
I should’ve killed him the moment I saw him again. Wanting to make him suffer has only prolonged my own.
Behind me, the older employee insisted he leave before she called the police, and that was enough for him to move on. I opened my eyes in time to see his companion glaring back in my direction as she carried one of the shopping bags full of questionable items.
By the time I noticed Berto’s face among the strangers, I was losing my grip on reality. Having a panic attack in public is one way to end what started out as really good fucking day.
But what the monster doesn’t know is exactly what’s going to end up killing him. He may’ve shaken me up, but that’s all he managed to do.
Now it’s my turn.
Emiliano asked me if I still wanted to go to the party tomorrow. Rather than use my voice that still shakes, I nodded.
Not only do I not want to miss meeting his family members, I’m prepared to take this all the way to the end. It’ll be the perfect opportunity to steal away, with Emiliano focused on his family members.
After tomorrow, nothing will ever be the same again.
Emiliano grunts in his sleep, twitching before he sits up, running his hands over my side of the bed, his eyelids still shut.
“Taina?” he asks before he notices me at the foot of the bed. He attempts to rub the sleep out of his eyes before offering a sleepy smile. “What do you need?”
You.
One more night with you.