Page 64 of Monster

The hushed whispers of “What a shame. And she was so talented,” echoed in the empty spaces, and I had to pretend I didn’t hear them.

It was one of the reasons I chose to move a state away. I couldn’t handle it anymore.

And Dominic was different. Monsters couldn’t feel empathy for others, could they?

Somehow, it made it so much better.

Slowly, I raised my arms and wrapped them around his neck.

He didn’t stop me.

He didn’t say anything.

For a moment, I didn’t even think he was breathing.

I let my hands settle on the back of his neck, my fingers playing with the short hair there before I drew him down to me. He came willingly, then I buried my face in his neck.

The tremors came first.

Then the tears.

Dominic tensed above me for a quick second before he became almost pliant in my arms.

“Shh, it’s okay, wildcat,” he said softly. His soothing voice only made me want to cry harder.

“I’m sorry,” I said. God. I almost hurt someone. I almost hurt him. What would I have done if he hadn’t ducked in time?

Nausea bubbled its way to the surface, and I quickly pushed it down, not wanting to think about it. I couldn’t.

“It’s okay,” he said. I couldn’t believe he was trying to comfort me. There was something messed up about us, because I was feeling comforted.

He shifted us around until he was lying on his back on the bed and I was on top of him. I unfurled my arms from his neck and placed them on his chest, moving my face up until I had it buried in his neck again, inhaling his scent.

He was just so solid beneath me.

So real.

There was something reassuring about his form, and as stupid as it might be, I didn’t want to let go.

Not yet.

I couldn’t even remember the last time someone had held me in their arms like this.

I couldn’t even remember the last time someone had the ability to make the world cease in significance for me, even for an infinitesimal moment in time.

I closed my eyes, and he ran his soothing hands up and down my back.

I didn’t know how long we stayed like that.

I didn’t care.

I just…

I just wanted to stay.

* * *

We didn’t talk muchas Dominic led me by the hand downstairs and to the kitchen.

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