He gave me one last kiss before saying goodbye to Emily and me, then left the apartment.
His departure felt weird, but so much had been going on. Maybe he was just trying to adjust to everything. I couldn’t blame him for that.
Figuring I needed to keep my mind busy, so I didn’t read too much into Arthur’s strange behavior tonight, I got back to work on the spare bedroom. My hope was we could have Emily’s room all set before she started school.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Arthur
The water was freezing around my legs as I waded into the bay.
Every part of my body was screaming to get out of the water and run as fast as I could back to Gwendolyn. Back to love and warmth.
But I’d be a coward if I did. I’d be less of a man than she deserved.
Bile rose in my throat from the toxins already beginning to absorb into my skin. My body shook, and a tickling in the back of my throat made me feel like I had to puke.
This wasn’t going to be a good death, at least before it had been kinda quick. This was going to be drawn out until every bit of the toxicity in the water had poisoned my body, cleaning the bay for everyone else to live.
I knew I wasn’t gonna make it out alive this time, but I thought that on my first deathbed. Maybe it didn’t hurt to fantasize what I’d do if I survived somehow.
Closing my eyes, I relaxed my body, and floated with the waves. Dreaming of a life with Gwendolyn. Having kids, a house, Emily smiling at her sister lovingly, and our robots that caused smiles and cursing surrounding us. I’d make more of an effort with the Hero Society. Hang out with Draco and the rest of the lot.
I’d marry Gwendolyn in a heartbeat. As soon as I took my breath back into living, I’d ask her to be mine. No more wasting time, because in the end we have a limited amount of that anyways.
My fingers started to tremor, and the rest of my body followed their lead. My head was throbbing in pain, and my lungs felt like they were becoming lead.
I wanted to just drown. End it quickly, but I had to make sure the job was done. That they were all safe.
Time passed as I nearly drowned from the vomiting, the tremors, and my muscles seizing up to where I couldn’t move.
Before my throat started to close, I uttered one last time to the wind with a shaky voice.
“I’m still lost in you.”
The deed was done, and I could finally let my head go under the water.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Gwendolyn
I woke up early to do some yoga while the apartment was quiet. Pops and Cora went about their normal morning routines while I stretched. Pops searched the news, and Cora was playing with her robotic mouse.
Today was going to be a good day, I could feel it. I texted Arthur, even though I’m sure he was still sleeping, to let him know that I loved him, and that I wanted to see him later. Lynn said before that she would love to help with Emily and was willing to watch her anytime Arthur and I wanted some time together. Maybe I could call in that favor tonight?
My body and mind felt fresh an hour later as I sat down with a cup of coffee and waited for Pops to give me the details from any good news. Everything was starting to get back into routine.
The clinking of Pops’s metal feet brought my attention to him as he sat on the table.
“What’s the news, Pops?” I chirped.
“Terratrex has confirmed their part in the water problem, but they are only being smacked with a million-dollar fine.”
Of course they were. No one going to jail or anything, just paying an amount that’s a pittance for them.
“Anything else?”
“First report from Seahill Fish and Wildlife this morning shows that the water is completely void of Pseudo-nitzchia.”
