15-05-2021-052358It-Ends-with-Us

My heart begins to smash against the walls of my chest. My neck
begins to itch, so I bring my hand up and rest it there, feeling the
pounding of my heart against my palm.
It’s pounding because I’m terrified of him.
It’s pounding because I hate him.
It’s pounding because I’ve missed him.
His eyes slowly crawl from my stomach to my face. A hurtful
expression takes over him, like I’ve just stabbed him straight through
the heart. He takes a step back into my apartment and his hands
come up to his mouth.
He begins to shake his head in confusion. I can see the betrayal all
over his face when he barely forces out my name. “Lily?”
I stand frozen, one hand on my stomach in protection, the other
hand still flat against my chest. I’m too scared to move or say
anything. I don’t want to react until I know exactly how he’s going to
react.
When he sees the fear in my eyes and the small gasps of breath I’m
barely inhaling, he holds up a reassuring palm.
“I’m not going to hurt you, Lily. I’m just here to talk to you.” He
swings the door open wider and points into the living room. “Look.”
He steps aside and my eyes fall to someone standing behind him.
Now I’m the one who feels betrayed.
“Marshall?”
Marshall immediately holds up his hands in defense. “I had no idea
he was coming home early, Lily. Ryle texted and asked for my help.
He specifically told me not to say anything to you or Issa. Please don’t
let her divorce me, I’m simply an innocent bystander.”
I shake my head, trying to understand what I’m seeing.
“I asked him to meet me here so you’d feel more comfortable
talking to me,” Ryle says. “He’s here for you, he’s not here for me.”
I glance back at Marshall and he nods. It gives me enough
reassurance to enter the apartment. Ryle is still somewhat in shock,
which is understandable. His eyes keep meeting my stomach and then
flicking away like it hurts to look at me. He runs two hands through
his hair and then points down the hallway while looking at Marshall.
“We’ll be in the bedroom. If you hear me get... if I start to
yell.. .”