Niko!

 

I turned around, annoyed that Yuuto was following me around. Obviously ignoring him wouldn't solve the problem, but my frustration didn't turn into words. A grunt was all I issued him.

 

Yuuto hunched over in exhaustion, grasping his knees and exhaling roughly. "Geez, you're fast."

 

Obviously, I was trying to get away from you.

 

"But," Niko straightened, taking a phone out of his pocket, "can I have your number? I mean, so we can link up for our project."

 

Yea...that's what people do...give out their numbers.

 

I honestly didn't want him to have it. I wanted to make up some excuse for not giving it out. I wanted to tell him why don't we meet up at my studio, room 401, at some made up time. I honestly didn't give a damn about this project and I cared even less about spending precious time I could be using to figure out what to do about Ray on Yuuto.

 

He's a married man.

 

He still loves you.

 

He needs you.

 

You need to let Ray go.

 

Looking into Yuuto's anticipating eyes, the yearning that I once felt in my own heart pulled my phone out of my pocket. I touched it near his as our contacts were exchanged.

 

Taking my phone back, I sighed. "Let’s meet Friday at 1000. I'll text you my room in the art building."

 

"Wow, I get to see your studio! I can't wait! See you then!" Yuuto smiled.

 

There was a blush on his face, whether he knew it or not. It made me feel awkward enough to turn away from him without another word. One part of me wanted to wipe his excitement off his face while the other part of me wanted it to stay. Deep down...I missed seeing people’s eyes light up at my artwork. It was something that made me feel full...complete. Yet, after Ray...

 

I jumped, hearing a car horn ring through my eardrums. It was then that I looked up, seeing an oncoming car avoid a garbage truck. Yet, when it passed, my mind stood still.

 

You need to move on.

 

My heart quickened, seeing a familiar facade of a man walking away into an alleyway. The black newsboy hat I stared at in wonder those years ago shone in the still light touched the darkness.

 

My feet quickened, cars blaring at me as I sprinted, without thinking.

 

Ray

 

I watched as Niko was approached by a student. I saw the boy smiling from ear to ear as they spoke. My heart raced the more I looked at them. When Niko took out his phone to exchange numbers, I suddenly felt Yahiko's arm block my vision. 

I had taken a step towards them.

"Better off without you, huh?"

I couldn't help staring ahead at Niko. My body was acting on its own impulse. No matter how hard I wanted it...Niko wasn't mine anymore. He had a right to live out his life like a normal kid. He had a right to talk to whoever he wanted to, go to parties, date people...I didn't have the right to cloud his mind. But that didn't make being so close, yet so far away, any easier because I needed him to know I do love him. I wanted so badly to tell him why I walked away.

Yahiko's snake-like tongue reverberated by my ear, "Don't be stupid. I'm saying this for his sake."

He was right.

I clenched my fist, trying to not let my emotions overcome me. If I faltered now, everything I did would be for nothing.

I made myself turn away, returning my cigarette to my mouth, "I'm going home. I'll see you tonight."

"Tell your man to be presentable. This is the last time I'm passing on that courtesy."

Right.

I just waved back to him, as we parted ways. My husband had a knack for doing whatever the hell he wanted. If that meant showing up with blood spattered on his shirt or carrying in a rotting limb, so be it. He was an animal, one I had lost control of: hell, it felt like I was the one on a leash. Once he got what he wanted, he'd destroy heaven and earth to keep it.

That I knew all too well.

I inhaled my tobacco, exhaling deep and long. Home...that merry thought was a figment of my imagination. Every day I walked into that prison, I felt less human. There, I'm a caged beast whose soul is trapped within an impenetrable safe where my lover swallowed the key. 

All I want, at the end of the day, is to be free.

"RAY!"

I took my cigarette out of my mouth. For a second...I thought I heard my name, yet it sounded distant. Yet, I paused to see if my imagination was getting the best of me. 

Three seconds.

I laughed, placing the cigarette back in my mouth. My mind was getting the best of me.

"RAY!"

There it was again...louder this time. I tilted my head, listening as footsteps began to echo, lightly, behind me. My hand instantly went to my back, sliding my hand down on my Sig P320.

The footsteps became louder as I began to take out my gun.

"RY—"