It had been a long day, nothing a long soak wouldn't cure. Baby Tiff was at her aunt's, so Tess had the evening to herself. Slow music, the sound of rain calming her tumultuous mind. This was a phase she couldn't wait to get over and done with.
Making some of these decisions seemed to be the best at the moment. She could have laid down her life to defend them - swear by Tiff's life, that they were the best. Until everything started falling apart.
It took the intervention of a few close friends to realise she only had one life to live, and making apologies for it was taking up precious time that only ought to have been spent on either Tiff or herself. Tess's reverie was disrupted by a knock on the door.
She checked the clock on her bathroom wall. Half past midnight. Knock on the door again, this time with less patience. Fear is gripping her.
"Who could that be?" she thought to herself.
Knock on the door again. This time, more like a bang.
She hastily wrapped her robe around her dripping body. She waded through the living room, trying to walk on the carpeted areas to avoid slipping on the tiles as her feet were still wet.
She peeped through the hole and almost lost her mind.
"Was that Daniel at the door?"
It was, with blood all over his shirt.
She let him in, nobody saying a word.
Tess was torn between helping him to the couch and making sure her towel does not drop.
She didn't understand why that second bit was a problem, seeing as Daniel had definitely seen more than that. More than once.
He winced as she cleaned his wounds.
"The other guy ... is he still alive?"
He smiled and still said no word.
He looked tired and angry. For the first time in a long time she was afraid. She had never known him to be the angry type.
"Did they deserve it?"
Silence.
She cleaned his wound and let him sleep in her bed.
Tiff's bed would come in handy tonight. No cookies would be served on a plate that wreaked the smell of blood.
No goodnights were whispered. Everyone drifted away alone in bed, each perhaps hoping the situation was different.
Tess loved pancake Saturdays. While she whipped the dough, she was dying to know what happened the previous night.Her thoughts were interrupted by the towering height that was blocking her light.
Still, no word.
That was it. She had had enough. He showed up like she was a nun in a convent offering to take in strays and she deserved way better than his godforsaken silence.
"You have 10 minutes to tell me what happened."
"Tess..."
"Nine"
"You don't wanna hear it."
"Try me."
"Yes"
"Yes, what?"
"They deserved it."
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