Page 110 of A Simple Truth

There, right next to the fish, was also a plate of fresh fruit, and a plate filled with different cheeses. I spent the whole day yesterday scavenging the streets of Svitar for the best of the best, because that’s what she deserved. I managed to find the small bakery she’d mentioned that she loved in her letters. Now, desserts of all kinds were abundantly laid out on the large picnic blanket.

The occasional gusts of wind fought the flickering flames of the million candles surrounding me, the melted wax lazily slithering down the shaft of the candles as I stood still, awaiting her arrival.

The plan was quite simple. After the games, I raced to this hidden spot on the beach, secluded and quiet, the perfect place for just the two of us as the ocean waves crashed into the sand. I spent a couple of hours setting up, then Orest would find her and bring her here. To me. And then? And then the rest of our eternity would start.

Soon, she’d be herewith me.

A smile reach my eyes as I remembered her from this morning.

She was brilliant, magnificent, breathtaking.

And when she jumped off that cliff, I thought my heart jumped off with her. Then, as seconds passed and she emerged from the wild waters victorious, my soul relieved as her face lit up with that stubborn smirk as our eyes locked.

There would be songs and legends written about her. About her courage and her perseverance. About her brilliance and wit.

And about her heart. Her heart, which conquered the Lord of Death himself.

I let out a small chuckle, remembering the poor joke I had come up with about keeping her away from cliffs. She’d roll her eyes and yet, those perfect lips of hers would stretch wide in a smile, making my stomach summersault with glee.

My thoughts quieted and my eyes darkened when I saw Orest’s figure finally appear.

Alone.

“Where is she?” I asked, my heart dropping in my chest while my mind rang the alarms. Orest didn’t reply, the look in his eyes…

No. I objected to the loud assumptions sprouting in my head.

“Where is she, Orest?” I asked again, somehow irrationally hoping that she was just a step behind.

“Gideon, Finn is gone,” he replied with a quiet voice.

“Gone?” I repeated. Whatever excitement I had felt moments before, exploded in flames, leaving scorched earth behind.

“There is a missing dragonfly, Gideon…” Orest looked at me, his eyes apologetic.

No. I glared at him again.

No.

“A few guards are down as well.”

No. It can’t be.My mind shattered at the truth.

“She is gone,” Orest said once again, as the vile, wicked inferno burned me within.

“She is notgonethen. She hasleft…” I bitterly spat out the words Orest was too afraid to say. My heart was being shredded, pain beyond my comprehension almost blinding me.

She left.My mind choked on the agony.

She. Left. Me.

She left.

My eyes narrowed at the burning candles, at the food and the wine.

Without hesitation, I incinerated it all, marching away from the ashes, down to the camp, where everyone celebrated while my soul slowly died.

My mind wasblank as I walked, only infernos raged free within me, scorching every thought, every memory except one.

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