Why?
Why?
Why?!
“Don’t you dare make up some bullshit to play with me.”
She jerks back as if I’d struck her. “I’m not playing games with you, Liem. I swear—”
“So what? You’ve been keeping this a secret from me ever since. Was it funny to you?”
“No. No of course not.” She reaches for my hand, but I pull it away leaving her full of remorse. “Let me get this out, please.”
My skin turns to fire, and my breathing is growing more difficult by the second.
“There was a woman—a nurse—at the hospital the night my parents died. I had so many emotions running through me as I sat there alone. Confused. Asking myself why did this happen to me?Why me?”She cries and I want to wipe her tears away, but I don’t. I fucking don’t.
Run.
I grind my teeth, tug at my hair to get some type of feeling through me. Anything.
“Then there was Gracie. She was so beautiful, and kind and she came to me like an angel. She sat there with me. Holding me while I cried. And I thought, whoever this woman is, she must be special because who would do that for a stranger?”
Gracie. Gracie would.
My mind turns to fog as the room grows smaller, and Danika’s voice fades away.
“She told me whenever I was feeling afraid, to say her name. And that’s been my saving grace for so many years now.” Tears flow down her pale cheeks. “I don’t believe in miracles, but I do believe the universe works in mysterious ways and I feel deep down in my heart, she brought me to you. She brought us together.”
My breath catches and an overwhelming panic hits me. My attention darts in every which direction as the room turns suffocating. I can’t breathe. I have to get out of here. I need to leave.
Run.
I jump out of the bed, pulling the sheets with me.
“Liem!” Danika shouts as I stumble out of the bedroom, clinging onto the wall for support.
Somehow, I’m able to pull my clothes on, only to be grabbed by a soft touch.
“Wait, Liem. Stop.”
I do but my focus stays on the floor. I can’t look at her.
She betrayed me.
Lied to me.
Played me.
“You can hate me all you want. But you can’t deny she brought us together. It wasn’t a coincidence, Liem. We needed each other and she was our lifeline.” She cups my face with her naked body standing before me. “Look at me.”
But I don’t.
I can’t and I’m reminded of why I shouldn’t be here. It’s a betrayal to be with another woman.
My heart thumps in my ears and my stomach twists with nausea.
She drops her hand and steps back. “I lost you. Haven’t I?” she whispers.
