LYSETTA
“Were you gonna say goodbye?” His voice comes out husky from behind me.
I’d snuck out of his bed when I woke up. Came to my room just for some clothes that I could leave in. If I’m being completely honest, I’m not sure if I intended on saying goodbye to him or not.
I didn’t know if I’d be strong enough.
“Yes.” I don’t turn around, but I feel him as he moves to stand behind me. His chest against my back, just like it had been the first time he’d touched me. It sends the same wave of heat through my body as it had then.
“Why?” he asks as if he already knows the answer and just needs to hear me say it.
“Because, I may look like her, but I’m not her, Ethan.” I find the courage to turn around and look up at him. He looks devastated, and almost vulnerable, nothing like his usual intimidating self.
“I don’t need her… I need you,” he tells me, and I’m almost tempted enough to believe him.
“You don’t need anyone, Ethan Shaw.” I smile at him sadly. The lump in my throat almost preventing me from breathing.
“Not true.” His hand touches my cheek, his thumb stroking at my skin.
Fuck, this is every bit as hard as I thought it would be.
“I can’t be the replacement for what you’ve lost. You need new hope now.” I stretch up on my toes and kiss his cheek, wishing I could have tasted his lips just once.
“Let her go,” I whisper in his ear.
If he can let her go, then he can let me go too. Without a fight. And I need for him not to fight.
If he does, he will win. I will stay here forever. Never finding out what the world held for me and never being loved for the girl I am, not the one I look like.
I step around him and he grabs my arm. I’m about to tell him not to stop me, that it’s hopeless.
“Take the car,” he says, pushing a set of keys into my hand.
“You can drive, right?” he checks.
It makes me choke out a sad laugh.
Guess that shows how well we know each other.
“Yeah, I drive,” I smile. “But, I can't take your car”
“Sure you can. The Vanquish isn’t even my favorite.” He gives me a smile back that’s just as fake as my own.
“Goodbye, Ethan.” I whisper
“Goodbye, Lysetta.” He loosens his hold and I walk away. Leaving him standing in the room that for a short time had been mine.
I take the stairs slowly, fighting against the impulse to run back to him.
Walk through the door.
That's all I have to do.
Walk out the door.
I repeat the familiar words in my head, wondering how they can still sound the same after so much has changed,
I manage to get across the hall, my hand reaching for the door handle just before I hear it.
