Page 28 of Sapphire Tears

“I know I did,” he whispers. “I’m sorry for that. And… I’m sorry for this, too.”

Then he takes one giant step forward and hoists me into his arms like I weigh nothing at all. I scream and beat on his back with my clenched fists as he carries me through the laundromat and out onto the street.

“Kolya, what the hell are you doing? Let me go!”

I want to keep swinging, but my arm is screaming in agony right along with me. It steals my breath away after just a moment of exertion. By the time he’s buckling me into the passenger seat of his car, I can barely form a coherent word, much less mount a convincing argument.

I slump against the window in a daze of pain as he drives. We weave chaotically through the deserted streets until we leave the city behind. As we go, I ask myself the same question again and again.

What am I going to do now?

A peel of thunder rattles overhead, and nausea threatens. “Oh God…” I mumble. “I-I think I’m going to be sick.”

Instantly, he pulls the car over and turns to me. “Do you need water or—”

“Unlock the door,” I say, banging on the window. “Unlock the damn door!”

The doors click open an instant later. I shove mine open and stumble out onto the narrow pavement and to the sparse grass beyond it.

I dry heave for a few seconds, before the contents of my lunch finally come up in painful spasms. I drop to my knees, praying that Kolya will wait by the car. I don’t want him to see me this weak.

Of course, that hope is dashed when I feel his shadow engulf me. Then his hands wind in my hair, pulling it back so that I can throw up in peace.

Every dry heave hurts worse than the last. Between the contractions, I try to push Kolya away. “Go… please, go…”

But he doesn’t budge. He just keeps my hair well away from my face, and once I’m done, I become aware of his hand rubbing down my back, too. Soothing. Comforting.

The smell of vomit burns my nostrils, so I try to stand. About halfway up, the world whirls and dissolves and flips on its head, and I’m sure I’m going to bust my skull open on the dry earth.

But before I can fall, he grabs hold of me. “I won’t let you fall,” he murmurs in my ear. I lean on him heavier than I’d like to as he guides me a few feet over. “Lean against this tree. I’ll get you some water.”

He disappears for an instant and comes back with a bottle of water. I take it with weak, shaking fingers and gargle twice before taking a few sips. The nausea is gone and the world has settled back into place, although the acrid aftertaste is lingering on my tongue.

“Here.”

I look down in shock at the cold can of lemon sofa he’s offering me. “You had that in the car?”

“I have it everywhere now.”

I take the soda can reluctantly at first. But the moment I pop it open, the smell alone drives any hesitation out of me. I down half the can in a matter of seconds.

“Thank you,” I say in a small voice as I wipe my lips.

Kolya just nods. A blast of lightning zig zags through the sky, followed by a rolling boom of thunder.

“Come on,” he says. “Let’s get back in the car.”

“I don’t want to.”

He’s already half-turned towards the vehicle when I speak. He pivots back in my direction, his eyebrows coming together in frustration.

“Jesus Christ, June. Are you so easily swayed?”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“It means that we were fucking engaged,” he growls. “I asked you to marry me.”

“No, youorderedme to marry you.”

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