Page 86 of Art of Love
“Because... the clue was for me to guess. I think they all were.”
There was the confirmation. Right there. The clues were for her.
“Jia...” I felt like such a fool now.
“Having had the night to think about it now, I see clearly that I actually didn’t have a chance in hell of beating you. You only help someone the way John helped me when you think they won’t make it, but you feel sorry for them.” She nodded, and more tears rolled down her cheeks.
I stepped toward her, wanting to hold her. “Why would you tell me? If you knew that, why?”
That was the idiot’s question of the day.
“You know why. I just told you,” she replied breathlessly.
“Jia—” I moved to her, but she held up her hand.
“No. Just leave me. Please... don’t come after me.” She turned and walked away.
Chapter 21
Jia
***
Irested my head againstthe pillar on the window bay.
It was raining again, fitting to my mood.
Dark and shitty, just like my life.
Fuck, I didn’t know why I even bothered. Everything was complete shit.
As I gazed on at the storm, my overactive imagination conjured up a titan from the swirl of angry dark gray clouds that gathered in the sky. It looked a hell of a lot like a raging Poseidon with his trident held high, ready to exact vengeance on sailors who dared travel without the proper rites of passage.
God, I was hopeless. Where would I get with that? Nowhere. Me with my mystical and fantasy beings and objects. I didn’t belong anywhere.
It was only five, but it looked much darker.
