Page 3 of Poison Vows

With her, breathing, talking…being… is simpleandexcruciating.

A double-edged sword, aimed at my chest. There’s never been an in-between state with Angel. It’s always been seductive extremes that I craved.

What does that say about me? Addicted to the way time becomes meaningless when we’re together?

“Did you miss me?” I whisper.

I want so badly to get a response, but I’m also relieved that she can’t hear me.

Coward!

That’s what Noah calls me. I hate that the jerk is sometimes spot on.

But how can someone like me talk to someone like her?

Back then, my speech impairment was so horrible and embarrassing, I couldn’t stand speaking around our other friends… but when it was just me and Angel, she forced me to speak.

Actually, I responded to her nonsense more than I spoke to her, but that doesn’t matter.

Initiating conversation with a girl like her without sounding like a fool was next to impossible… but I wanted her around me regardless of the cost to me.

It’s stupid, really.

The girl already knows too much about me and could be a formidable enemy.

Of course, up until now, she hasn’t done any of that. I made sure of it, but that doesn’t mean I should relax. Angel is nothing if not trouble.

I mean, how many seven-year-olds in this world get suicidal thoughts as the only option to atone for something out of their control?

Sure, she made a mistake but to then believe that she caused her grandfather’s death from that one mistake and then wanting to toss herself over a cliff to atone? Totally messed up.

In the end, she hesitated.

She wanted to die, but even after I encouraged her to end it she couldn’t reconcile with death, especially after I told her life was meaningless.

She was livid with me for saying that. It was also that very moment that started our downward spiral.

After all these years she’s stillcomplicated. A poison without an antidote.

My survival instincts tell me to get rid of her… but then my nature goes to war against that ridiculous thought.

Like that idiot Icarus, I’ll use up all my energy into getting as close to Angel as possible without care of perishing.

But if and when I perish, what happens to her?

Worried, I stare at her face, illuminated now by the moonlight filtering in through her window.

A sudden, all-consuming heat I wasn’t expecting starts simmering the blood in my veins the longer I stare at the familiar but oh-so unfamiliar face in front of me.

“You’ve grown,” I mutter.

Unable to control myself, my hand reaches toward her.

As gently as I can, I cup her face, then I run my thumb across her plump lips.

“I’ve been waiting for you. You’re finally back home to me,” I whisper softly, stroking her cheek until the frown dissolves and a look of peace appears on her face. I almost smile. “There was no way I’d let you stay away from me for long, Angel.”

It’s not a mere, empty statement.

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