Page 93 of The Tattoo Artist

“I love you so much,” I whisper, my voice breaking. “To the point where my heart broke when you left. I blame myself for not being more careful on the road. If I had, maybe none of this would have happened. And I wouldn’t be a stranger to you. I would be your husband. The love of your life.”

I ran my hands through my hair, trying to find the right words.

“I see how much I’m hurting you, and it kills me. I vowed I’d never hurt you, but I’ve failed. I’ve hurt you more than everyone. And I don’t want that, I want to see you smile-I want to see you succeed in life and become the best painter…So, I’m going to let you go now, Alexandra Nicolaides. And don’t think this doesn’t break me because it does. This fucking ruins me. The love I have for you is unexplainable, but your happiness is worth more than my own. And so, they say, if you love her…let her go…Goodbye Alexandra.”

Tears well up in my eyes as I lean down and softly kiss her forehead, the final touch of a love that was both beautiful and painful. I rest my forehead on her for a moment, inhaling her scent. I stood up, my heart torn between wanting to stay and wanting to respect her need for space.

As I left her room, I saw her Aunt leaning against the wall. I couldn’t bear to look her in the eyes, knowing the pain she must be feeling as well. “Take care of her, okay?” I said, my voice choked with emotion. “And if she needs anything that you can’t give her, please call me. A car, a house, a job, anything. Just call me.”

Her aunt nodded; her eyes filled with sorrow.

“I love her.” I whisper. “You know that right, I’m doing this for her.”

“I know Ares.” She whispers, her hands touching my bare arms. “And she loves you so much, that she fell in love with you all over again. You are a good man, with a beautiful heart…”

“Take care of her.” She nods as I leave the house.

I open the door to my brothers car and slam it shut as we drove away. We drove in silence, I burry my face into my hands, trying to process the pain of letting go of the woman I loved. It felt like death itself, losing a part of my soul. But I knew deep down that this was the right decision for both of us.

I didn’t know what the future held, or if we would ever find our way back to each other. But for now, I had to let her go, to give her the space and time she needed to heal and find herself.

“What’s happening now?” Adonis whispers, his fingers tapping against the steering wheel- small thuds echoes into the car.

“It’s time to let her go. To end the plan. And the story.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

ALEXANDRA JONES

THREE WEEKS LATER

LIFE ISN’T THE SAME ANYMORE.

It hasn’t been the same since he sat on the edge of my bed and made the decision to let me go.

‘I blame myself for not being more careful on the road. If I had, maybe none of this would have happened. And I wouldn’t be a stranger to you. I would be your husband. The love of your life.’

And I cried.

Day and night, I cried with regret.

Because I miss him, I miss him so much.

I miss the way he looks at me, the way his eyes softened, the way he smiles but tries to hide it…the way he touches my face and kisses my lips.

Nothing felt the same.

I haven’t seen him.

I haven’t heard from him…

He really let me go.

The leaves continued to fall from the trees, I found myself lost in a sea of emotions, unable to concentrate on anything other than the ache in my heart. I should be drawing, focusing on my art to distract myself, but my mind kept drifting back to Ares. I tried to push away the thoughts, to immerse myself in my art, but each stroke of the pencil felt empty, devoid of the passion and joy I once had. My sketchbook, meant to be filled with life and creativity, now felt like a reflection of my broken heart.

Mrs. Toffee’s deadline was approaching, and I knew I had to finish my sketches, but my mind was clouded with thoughts of Ares.

Why did I call him a stranger!

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