Page 125 of Misery
"My decision. My life. My choice." I stand, still holding the two drives. "I've had two men making decisions for me, about me, without my input. That ends now. Whatever happens next, I decide."
"And what do you decide?" Runes asks.
I think about it.
About the violence that's touched everything.
About the lies and how I was being watched and twisted love.
About my father's missing fingers and my mother's bandaged head.
About Oskar's confession and Thiago's death.
"I decide to live," I say finally. "Here. In my home. With my family. At my job. Painting my art. If Los Coyotes come, we'll deal with it. If they don't, even better. But I'm not running anymore."
"That's risky?—"
"Everything's risky. Hiding didn't keep me safe. Running wouldn't either. At least here I have backup."
Dad squeezes my hand. "That's my girl."
"Stubborn like her father," Starla adds, but there's pride in it.
"We'll need to increase security," Runes says. "At least until we know Los Coyotes' intentions."
"Fine. But I work. I paint. I live." I look at Oskar. "And I get to decide who's in my life and who isn't."
He nods, understanding.
This is about him too.
About us.
About whether there's an us at all after everything.
"I need some air," I say. "And time. To think."
"I'll come with you," Helle offers.
"No. Alone. Actually alone. No watching. No following. Just me."
"Elfe—" multiple voices start.
"One hour. I'll stay on the clubhouse grounds, but I need space."
They don't like it but they let me go.
I walk outside, around the building to the small garden area nobody really uses besides Aziza in the summer.
I sit on a rusted bench under a dead tree.
Fitting.
The two drives are warm in my hands.
Two versions of violation.
Two men who claimed to love me while taking away my privacy, my choice.
