Page 37 of Dark Truths

“Then why are you here?”

“You’ve been ignoring me all day.”

“For good reason,” I snap, tossing his hand away from me.

“I know that now,” he bites back before his tone drops. “But I was worried.”

“Well, like I said, I’m fine.”

“You had a miscarriage, angel.”

“Stop calling me that.” I don’t know where this anger is coming from, but I’m mad. Mad at him. Mad at the fucking world. Mad at myself for being so fucking mad.?

“You’re upset.”

“Of course I’m upset, Dimitri! Did you know that the moment I learned what was happening, all I wanted was for you to be there with me? To share in my grief, to hold me and tell me everything would be okay. But you weren’t there.”

“I couldn’t be.”

“Exactly! You couldn’t be because you want to keep whatever this is a fucking secret.”

“Gabriella, your family—”

“Would understand,” I interrupt whatever stupid words were about to come out of his mouth. “They want me to be happy andI’m happy with you, Dimitri.”Sure, my family would be angry at first but they'd get over it.

“Gabriella…”

“Will this ever be more than what we are? Will this ever be more than a secret?”

The pain on his face is answer enough for me, even as he says, “It can’t be.”

“Why not?” I deserve to know the reason he’s denying us both this chance, at least.?

“There are things you don’t know, things you don’t understand.” His voice is strained, like he’s having difficulty speaking the words.?

“Then tell me.”

“I can’t.”

“You can’t? Or you won’t?”

Dimitri sighs and stands from the bed, turning his back on me as he runs his hands through his mussy locks. “Gabriella…”

Defeat settles heavily on my shoulders, draining every ounce of strength I have left. “You should go, Dimitri.”

“Angel…please.”

“You know, maybe losing the baby was a blessing,” I tell him, venom coating my monotone voice and words. “What kind of future would it have had when its father can’t be honest with its mother? I don’t want that for my children. So please…just go. Go before this gets any deeper and harder to climb free from.”

The look on Dimitri’s face as he leaves will forever haunt me.?

Devastation and sorrow.

Pain and grief.

Guilt and shame and…something else.

But it’s only after he leaves that I’m able to put a name to it.

---