I was at a loss; Marco kept asking where we should go next, but my mind was a blur.I felt like I was losing my grip on reality.Just then, a glimmer of hope flickered as my phone buzzed.It was V, letting me know that he had just returned and locked himself in his room.A wave of relief washed over me.
When we got to the apartment, I urged Marco to leave, insisting I would be fine.He stubbornly refused to budge.I didn't have the energy to argue, so I simply thanked him and made my way toward the apartment door.I rang the bell, but no one answered, so I knocked, and finally, V opened up.
“I need to speak with Zane,” I said, urgency lacing my voice.
“Go ahead, but I doubt you'll get through to him.What happened between you two?”V stepped aside, her concern evident as she motioned for me to come in.I scanned the room, but his father was nowhere in sight.Cautiously, I made my way upstairs and knocked on Zane’s door.
“Zane, it's me.Can we talk?”I struggled to get the words out, a knot in my throat choking me.Silence met my plea.
“Zane, please.I need to explain.It's not what you think,” I begged, desperate to share everything,no matter the cost.I sank to my knees, my hand resting against the door, tears streaming down my face.Even after all this time, I still had so many tears to shed.
The door suddenly swung open, revealing Zane standing tall before me, his face a canvas of the pain I had caused him.Anger had faded, leaving only disappointment in its wake.He left the door ajar and retreated to sit on the edge of his bed.
I rose and walked toward him, closing the door softly behind me.I knelt before him, reaching for his hand, but he pulled it away.I fought to steady my breathing for the sake of what we once dreamed of together.
“We often judge people based on superficial impressions… A well-dressed man may not be wealthy; a smiling face might hide a world of hurt.You found out I'm pregnant and jumped to conclusions about infidelity, but what if I told you it's not like that at all?”I searched his eyes, aching to hear his thoughts.
“How could I not make assumptions when you left me in the dark?”he replied, his voice laced with disgust.I lowered my gaze, struggling to keep the knot in my throat from choking me completely.
“You're right, and I'm sorry.I just didn't know how to handle it.”More tears fell uncontrollably.
“Then tell me the truth!Help me understand!”he demanded, lifting my chin so I could meet his gaze.In that moment, something shifted; he saw right through me.He understood even the part I had forgotten.He could read me like no one could.He saw my soul; he always did.
His eyes widened as realization dawned on him, and he pulled back, taking a moment to gather himself.Suddenly, he collapsed to his knees before me, grasping my shoulders with an intensity that spoke of his desperation.
“Did someone hurt you?”he asked slowly, his eyes searching mine for answers.I didn't need to give them; instead, I fell into his embrace, and he held me tightly, as if trying to shield me from harm, though it was too late.He wept like a lost child, his pain deeper and somehow familiar to him.
In that moment, on the floor, we shared an embrace that felt transformative.Maybe love was as destructive as it was beautiful.If I hadn't fallen for Zane, I might still be with Marco, living a life of carefree school days, summer adventures, sandy beaches, parties, and new friendships.
After a while, Zane pulled back and asked another question.
“Who did this to you?”His eyes burned with a fierce intensity, dark and unforgiving.I shook my head, unwilling to let him act on the rage that brewed within him.But he could see through my facade; it wasn't difficult for him to connect the dots.He knew I had a photoshoot and that I hadn't shown up at school or met him the following day.The truth was etched across my face.
“It was your mother's work partner, Andrea, wasn't it?”he asked, and I buried my face in my hands, unable to respond.
He scrambled to his feet, storming toward the door in a fit of rage.In an instant, he was downstairs, flinging the door open as I raced after him.
“V!”I called out, and her door swung open.“Please, help me!If you don't, he's going to commit murder today.”Without a moment's hesitation, she followed me.Everything was happening so quickly that I struggled to grasp all the details.
Once we stepped outside, I spotted him sprinting toward his car.Marco was still there, having exited his vehicle to watch the unfolding chaos.I felt a flicker of relief that he hadn't left yet—maybe he could help me talk Zane down, or perhaps V could.
“Zane, please stop, please!”I pleaded.He froze, caught in the moment.Marco stood nearby, his mouth agape as he tried to process the scene.V halted too, allowing me to inch closer to Zane.I reached out, touching his back before grasping his arm to turn him toward me.His eyes met mine, deep and haunting, as if recalling a long-buried memory.
“Do you remember Rome, your nightmare?”he asked, a bitter smile crossing his lips.“You insisted it had nothing to do with me, but what I never told you was that you called my name during it—just like you did now: 'Zane, please stop, please.'I was your nightmare.”His words left me momentarily stunned.
Why would I say his name?What kind of nightmare was I having?It wasn't as if dreams could predict the future.But perhaps my subconscious was warning me, piecing together all the little facts—like the time he hit someone or how reckless he could be at times.
His dark past haunted him, making him impulsive.I knew what it felt like to carry guilt for things I hadn't done yet.Zane was asking for forgiveness for something that hadn't happened yet, driven by a love or obsession so profound it could lead him to destroy himself.
I had to do everything I could to bring him back to reason.V and Marco moved closer.
“Zane, please listen to me.If you go through with this, you could end up in jail.It's not worth it.Stay with me, and we can overcome this together.Do you remember what you said?Together, we can conquer the world.Let's move to New York or wherever you want.I'll be by your side.I'll marry you and have as many kids as you want.We can travel, explore the world, make love on the beach, and create lifelong memories.But please, don't do this.I'm begging you.”The last words tumbled out amidst the knot in my throat, making it hard to breathe.
Marco was beginning to grasp the gravity of the situation, and V understood too, and was in tears, clearly having overheard us.Marco paced, running his hands through his hair, visibly distressed.
Suddenly, Zane fell to his knees and let out a scream so powerful that it drew the attention of everyone around us.The anguish etched on his face was far more intense than the pain Andrea had inflicted on me.It shattered my heart.
I let him scream, hoping it would release his pent-up anger and lead him back to me.Zane’s greatest enemy was his own impulses, which could only usher in darkness.When he quieted, he rose and moved toward his car.
