Page 28 of Paradox
Mid swing, Eden stops, and looks over his shoulder at me. “Get back inside.”
“Do you have a permit for that?”
“Do you have a death wish?”
"You know it's illegal to cut that down if you don't have one?"
Axe in hand, Eden marches forward and pushes me back towards the cabin.
“It could be endangered,” I tell him.
“It’s a red alder.”
“That’s beyond the point.”
“What’s beyond the point, is that you almost lost your toes and you’re outside, half-naked, with no shoes on!”
“You didn’t care when you threw me in the lake.”
“You’re the dumb fuck who put wet clothes back on.”
“You left me there!” I scream at him, and push him as hard as I can in the chest. “For all you knew, I could have been dead by the time you picked me up.”
He tilts his head to the side. “So what you’re saying is that I actually saved your life?”
“Are you fucking kidding me? Why didn't you…” I ball my hands into fists. “I should be in the hospital right now?”
“Where you should be, is back inside the cabin.”
“Don’t pretend like you give a shit.”
“I called HealthDirect. And I’ve been checking on you every thirty minutes. I was literally just in there.”
“Oh, wow,” I scoff in his face. “A bottle of water and a sachet of soup. That’ll make up for all the shit you’ve put me through.”
“Don’t forget who’s helping who.” His finger digs into my bare chest.
“Yeah, me! I’ve done everything you've asked since getting here.”
“And complained about it the whole goddamn time.”
“That’s not true, and you know it.”
“Fine. You either go out of your way to push my buttons, or you're a glorified fuck doll that gets the job done and gives nothing in return.”
I know it’s a bad decision even before I start moving, but I’ve got the rage of a giant and the delusion of a chihuahua as I wind up and send my fist flying at Eden.
I know he’s mocking me when he dusts his fingers over his cheek like he’s brushing away a fly. And I know I’ll never stop paying for it ashisfist sendsmeto the ground.
It's so quick I can’t even brace myself; it’s straight out flat—head thumping against the hard ground.
I’ve never felt pain like this before.
I’m not sure if I can even move.
There’s no blue left in the sky now.
I should go back inside.
