Page 83 of Maddest Temptation

As the night drew in, it was like the world decided to spin slowly, giving me one night to enjoy myself and forget about my problems. I wanted to get better; this time was different from the rest. I needed to get better, for my brother, for my mother, for my friends, but most importantly for myself. There was so much of life I hadn’t yet lived.

I scooped a bit of ice cream and ate it while my eyes followed the crowd, not really paying attention to anything. That’s when I caught sight of a couple taking a picture of each other. I ate the rest of my ice cream and threw the empty cup away and made my way towards them.

“Excuse me, would you like me to take a picture of you two?”

“Oh, yes!” The woman squealed and offered me her phone. “Thanks so much.”

The woman stood before the Ferris wheel and her partner did so as well, when I shot the first picture, he got on his knee and removed a black velvet box from his pocket. My jaw dropped and the girl’s phone almost did so as well.

“Oh God,” I stared at them.

That’s when the woman realized what was happening. She placed both hands to her mouth and began crying. The whole scene was very emotional, and I took it upon myself to film them. A crowd had gathered around us to watch the young couple get engaged. After the entire spectacle, she came to grab her phone, and I congratulated her with a hug and a smile that reached my ears.

I couldn’t stop smiling at the look on the man’s face as he knelt before the love of his life and asked her to marry him, it was so pure and filled with joy. Like he had just won the lottery. I giggled to myself and came to realize that I deserved that, too.

That kind of happiness. Why did I have to content myself with what I had, with what my father was forcing upon me? I wanted more than an arranged marriage to a man I didn’t know. I wanted more than an unhappy life. I deserved more than what I was told I could have.

For the hundredth time tonight, Cassio came to mind and in that moment walking through the streets of Chicago, I realized that I didn’t hate him like I thought I did. Maybe I never truly had.

I wanted Cassio and it was about time I stopped depriving myself of what I wanted most. This one year I had was about enjoying my freedom to do as I pleased.

The hairs on the back of my neck rose, and I had the feeling someone was watching me. Perhaps I was being paranoid, but I looked back either way. I didn’t remember the street being so empty. My apartment was just around the corner, but this place was always packed with people.

I squinted my eyes, trying to see through the shadows. Two figures appeared walking my way. I had seen them. I recognized their jackets and their matching black Adidas; I saw them at the Navy Pier earlier tonight.

What were the chances they lived nearby? Panic settled, and I wanted to bolt but didn’t.I tried to maintain my calm.

Quickening my pace, I took my keys from my pocket and searched for the one that opened my apartment. My hands shook. The faster I walked, the faster they seemed to follow me. The dim lights from the street made it hard to see them, but I wasn’t interested in that now, all I wanted was to reach my apartment. And then what?

I ran now. The door to my building was closed, and I fumbled with the keys to open them up, the two men following me didn’t stop, they kept on coming, dismissing the fact that I was entering the building. The key finally fit the lock and I opened them almost twisting my wrist. Then I was running up the stairs toward the eighth floor. I couldn’t see them, but I heard the building door open.

I closed the door of my apartment and ran to the kitchen, taking a sharp knife. I sat against my refrigerator, trying to look small in case they walked in. There were sounds and I could hear men’s voices. Then there was a shot.

Don’t do it. Don’t do it. Don’t.

I picked up my phone.

“Fran—”

“They are in my building.”

“Who?”

“I don’t know, Cassio, I didn’t stop to ask them,” I snapped but my voice was already trembling.

“Stay there.” He seemed strangely calm when I was freaking out to the point of having an attack.

“Where else would I go?” I cried.

God, no.

Tears ran down my cheek and I couldn’t help it. This was the second time I cried with him on the phone. There was something about hearing him that made me lose it.

“Sorry,” I cried again. All I heard was him cursing and then he was gone. “No. No!” I looked at the screen and my phone was off. My battery had died.

I made to stand but heard footsteps that sounded close to my door. I heard knocking in the distance and knew they were searching for me. Resting my head in between my knees, I hugged myself tight and closed my eyes praying for this to be over.

There was a loud noise, it sounded like something had been torn up—destroyed. My door. Hugging myself even tighter, I bit my arm, keeping myself from making any sounds. Footsteps neared me but all I could hear was the desperate beating of my heart. It was so loud it was almost deafening.

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