Page 55 of Tangled In Lies

I stand so abruptly, the bench topples over behind me.

But I don’t care.

I’m tired of these stupid recurring thoughts circling almost nonstop in my head.

I’m tired of people using me as a puppet.

Of all the lies and secrets.

Of the people and things I’ve lost and can never regain.

Of Freddy.

My sister’s death.

Phoenix’s prison sentence.

The threats to my friends.

The text messages.

The wilted roses.

The kiss.

The touches.

The longing.

The attraction.

The engagement.

Our future marriage.

Losing the possibility to escape this life, the only thing that kept me going.

In one big swoop, I push the sheet music off the top of the piano and watch them scatter across the floor.

My entire body is shaking, my heart dancing at an irregular beat. It’s too fast and out of control.

I walk to the seating arrangement, grab the vase from the coffee table, and throw it against the wall. It doesn’t smash into a million pieces like I’d hoped, so I pick up the larger piece and fling it at the wall once more, this time with even more force. It does the trick, and glass shards fly everywhere, enabling a whoosh of pent-up air to hiss out of my lungs.

Finally, a small relief.

Fast footsteps come toward me from behind, and I spin, just as strong arms band around me.

Phoenix.

My body tenses, and I try to wiggle out of his hold. “No, let me go. Please. Let me go.”

He only holds me tighter, pulling me against his warm chest.

Tremors shake my body almost uncontrollably. “Phoenix, I need to . . . I . . . I can’t keep this in. It’s too much.”

His hold loosens enough for me to hammer on his chest with my fists.

He doesn’t stop me or complain. “It’s okay, Angel. Let it all out.”

---