Chapter 36
CHAPTER 36
KIARA
I’ve been calling Yolanda all day, but she doesn’t pick up. She doesn’t want anything to do with me anymore. I’ve lost my best friend, the only family I have left. Now, I’m well and truly alone, and I don’t know what to do.
I open my locket and stare at the pictures inside. The picture of Grandma, Mom, and me seems like a lifetime ago. It was certainly a much simpler, happier time in my life. I miss them so much, and Grandpa, too. The possibility that I’ll never see Yolanda again hurts so much.
Zyran knocks softly on my bedroom door, but I don’t bother responding because I know he’ll come in, anyway.
The door opens quietly, tentatively, like he’s nervous to come in here.
Good. He should be worried that I’ll finally decide to kick him out of my life for good. He’s the reason Grandma died, and he’s the reason Yolanda wants nothing to do with me anymore.
“Go away,” I say with as much anger as I can muster, but the shakiness of my voice betrays my intention.
“Is that what you truly want, butterfly?” he asks cautiously, standing at the foot of my bed. I can feel his eyes boring into me, but I refuse to look at him.
“Yes.”
The word is out before I have a chance to think about what I’ve just said.
“Look at me, Kiara.”
Don’t look at him , my brain practically screams. Don’t let him know how much this hurts.
“Go away, Zyran,” I say through gritted teeth, finally looking up at him. Those beautiful eyes I love so much are filled with tears.
He’s fucking crying , and I feel like my heart is shattering into a million pieces.
“Baby—”
“Go away and don’t come back this time.”
“Kiara—”
I stand up and point to the door. “Get out!”
Zyran stands there for a moment, the weight of my words sinking in. My heart is racing so fast, to the point I feel like I’ll pass out. I don’t want to lose him, especially when we’ve just started to form a real relationship—if you can even call it that. I was so ready to get to know him, to understand his fucked up ways, but now, I want nothing to do with him.
Liar .
My brain wants him to leave, but my heart wants him to stay.
My feelings must be clear on my face because he hesitates for a moment, just one second where I know he wants to close the distance between us. But he respects my wishes by walking out of the room. I expect him to look back, want him to turn around so I can get a glimpse of those sea-blue eyes one last time.
But he doesn’t.