Page 30 of The Lies Always Told

“Don’t you dare say that. You are neither of those things, I promise you.”

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” Nellie adds.

“I can promise you that. You’re not useless, and you may have felt helpless, but you were not. I mean it.”

“I want to go home,” Nellie says suddenly as she stands. She dries her tears and looks at the water before turning back toward me with determination in her eyes.

“Okay?” I ask, not understanding what she means.

“I mean it, Gus. I’m going to pack my bags. I would like to go back now.”

Noted. The conversation’s over, and she’s ready to go back to reality, regardless of what I think. She puts her barriers up and walks inside the villa, not turning back once. I guess we’re going home.

The flight was painfullylong and too quiet. Nellie didn’t talk to me much and pretended she was asleep for most of it. I was dreading the moment we had to go back, and now that it’s here, I was right to dread it. I’m going to miss her, and I didn’t even get to say a proper goodbye.

“Can I see you again?” I ask, holding her suitcase and standing outside her condo.

“I’m sure we’ll see each other at the next family function in a few months,” Nellie replies, grabbing the handle of the suitcase and pulling it to her.

“That’s not what I meant.” I know I said this couldn’t go any further, but I hate leaving her like this here. I hate leavinguslike this.

“You said nothing could happen after this weekend,” Nellie bites back, pushing the frame of her glasses up and not looking me in the eye.

“Yeah, but I don’t want to leave things like this. I don’t know, maybe you were right. Maybe we can try to figure ourselves out before discarding the possibility completely.”

“I don’t think so. If there’s a chance for us to be athing, I need time.”

“Just three days ago, you said you wanted to see where this would go.” Please don’t prove me right, Nellie.

“Yeah, but the more I thought about it the more I realized these five days—this long weekend is all I could give you. I’m about to move back home and find a job. I need to stay focused on that, so now the weekend is done, we can both carry on.” The warm and flirty Nellie I’ve come to know is gone. Here is the cold and facts-driven Nellie in her place.

I scoff and shake my head. “Unbelievable. I guess I was right. My issues are too much to handle, huh?”

“It’s not that, I promise.”

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep, remember? Isn’t that what you said? So this is it?” I ask incredulously, watching as Nellie shuts me out completely, locking the door and throwing away the key before I can even ask if I can keep it.

“It’s all I can give you right now.” Nellie turns to her front door to unlock it and then faces me again. This time, her lips tremble slightly. Almost imperceptible, but it’s there. The small shake. The hesitation.

“So that’s it then?” I ask again, trying to see if she’ll hesitate again. All I need is a small sign that I can fight for this, even if just yesterday, I thought there was no way. Even if I’m delusional. Even if it’s delusional. But I don’t get that. What I get is a small smile, and then Nellie rises on her tiptoes to kiss me gently on the lips.

“That’s it, Gus. Have a good night. I’ll see you someday.” She steps through her door, closing it behind her and shutting me out completely.Message received.

PART 2

THE RISE OF THE WAVE

When water fades and takes its claim,

A towering wave begins its raise.

At first, it thrills in a wild haze,

Then shatters loud, its roar now spent.

TEN

MISSING HER

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