Page 63 of ’Til You Break

Her nails rake across my neck. The sting barely registers.

It’s nothing compared to the threat of losing her.

“Fuck you,” she spits. “I should’ve known something was wrong with you. The way you treated me that night when I was terrified. When I needed you. I thought he was going to kill me. YOU were going to kill me.”

“I would’ve never hurt you, Hannah.”

“How was I supposed to know that?” She doesn’t wait for an answer.

She curses, struggles and bucks beneath me until she finally realizes I’m not moving.

One last burst of resistance. Then she’s spent.

I stay where I am. I don’t know whether this is surrender... or whether she’s simply waiting for another chance to escape.

The fear is gone from her eyes. All that’s left is determination.

“Fine. Explain it then.” She isn’t asking because she wants answers. She’s saying whatever she thinks will get me off her.

“You told me about your past. I suppose it’s only fair I tell you mine.”

I tell her about the night that changed everything. About watching three men murder my mother. About the scar carved into my body. About the paramedics who thought I’d bleed to death before we reached the hospital.

With every detail, Hannah’s anger fades and compassion replaces it. She can’t help herself. It’s who she is.

I find myself wondering...

If I’d shown her this part of me sooner... Would she still have run?

“My father’s will to fight died shortly after the investigation began. Which left getting justice for my mother to me.”

I finish and climb off her. If she runs now... I won’t stop her. I’ve given her everything I have.

She doesn’t run.

Instead, she rises onto her knees and wraps her arms around me from behind.

“I’m so sorry that happened to you, Vik.”

“Don’t be. The past can’t be changed. But the future is still ours to decide.”

“I’ve found them,” I say softly.

“What are you going to do?”

She’s expecting me to say I’ll call the police.

That I’ll finally let someone else carry this burden. But I won’t lie to her again.

“I’m going to kill them, Hannah.”

“What?”

Instead of pulling away, her grip tightens.

“Vik, you can’t.”

“My whole life has led to this. I can’t walk away now.”