Page 58 of The Death of Kisses

“Tell me, Lilly,” I breathed, my grip tightening around her wrist. Her eyes widened in fear or surprise, but I pressed on, unable to stop the storm inside—starved for answers, for clarity, for something I couldn’t even name. “How long have you been fucking my bother behind my back?”

It felt as if a powerful riptide of emotions suddenly surged forth from deep within me, overwhelming every part of my being.

“Char—“ Lilly started but it was interrupted by the sudden scream of agony.

I didn't hesitate for a moment. She fought violently, her nails digging into her arm as the razor pressed cruelly into her skin. My grip was firm, unwavering, as I held her down, feeling her jittering beneath my hands. With a wrenching mixture of pain and desperation, I dragged the blade through the layers of flesh and muscle, each movement fraught with emotion, each cut a cry into the darkness.

Blood erupted to the surface, pooling and spilling over her skin as if it were pleading to be set free, her flesh torn open with agonizing ease. A crushing weight lifted from my chest, yet my heart pounded with relentless fury. The water shimmered, first rose-colored, then crimson-stained as the first drops splashed down, each one a violent burst that tainted everything in its path—an ocean of red, alive with rage and despair. With frantic purpose, I dragged the blade across her forearm, driven by a fierce, unrelenting need, slicing toward her palm as if trying to carve out the shadows that haunted us both.

Ragged, torn screams echoed hauntingly off the bathroom walls as I finished the slice, the blood pouring out so fiercely, faster and faster, as her heart thundered wildly in her chest. Tears blazed down my face, a storm of fury and despair crashing inside me.

“Plea—” she gasped, but her words were swallowed by the silence that followed, her head sinking back against my chest.

I dragged the blade halfway through her other arm, my hands shaking uncontrollably, then it slipped from my grip, clattering to the floor.

“Char—” Lilly’s voice was barely a whisper, her breathing growing shallow, her muscles twitching with a desperate, uncoordinated effort. Her eyes fluttered closed, as if surrendering to the inevitable.

I murmured helplessly into her hair, clutching her against my pounding chest, my heart shattered into a thousand pieces as her life slipped away. Her lips turned a chilling shade of blue, her pulse weak and faltering, and I felt the agony of losing her ripping through my soul.

“I loved you!” I screamed through the flood of tears, my voice coated with agony, but she was never really there to hear me. Nothing—nothing—ever seemed to matter to her.

“I loved you,” I wept, clutching her as if my hold could pull her back from the silence. Regret tore through my chest, wrestling with an aching, piercing desire that refused to die, even as rage poisoned every breath I took, watching her blood splash out and stain the floor.

The warmth of the water no longer reached me. All I felt was the cold emptiness of losing my soulmate, my confidant, my everything—cradling the lifeless remains of my best friend in my trembling arms.

“At least you’re safe now, Lilly,” I choked out between sobs, rocking her fragile body in a helpless attempt to hold onto her one last time. No one else can hurt you now. No one.

45

EXPLORE

Present day - November 22nd - Town of Ashwood - Population 1,576 - 18 yrs old

Waking up with Charlie lying peacefully beside me is one of the most incredible blessings I’ve ever known. The sight of her chest rising and falling with gentle, steady breaths, the faint, tender curve of her lips—those small, precious details—sent a rush of love through my heart. She looked so much younger than I’ve ever seen her, as if this moment of pure tranquility had wiped away every worry and weight. For once, her sleep was truly at peace, and I was overwhelmed with gratitude that she could finally find that serenity since I shared my diagnosis with her. I didn’t have the strength to wake her, to disturb that fragile, beautiful calm. I yawned softly and stretched, quietly slipping out of bed. Downstairs, I headed straight for the coffee, feeling a surge of warmth and hope as I noticed Charlie had somehow managed to gather the same ingredients I use at home. In that simple act, I found a glimmer of resilience and love that carried me through the day.

I gazed around the cozy cabin, taking a slow, comforting sip of the warm coffee that stirred life into my senses. A gentle breeze whispered through the window, and my eyes were drawn irresistibly to the back door. Heart pounding with a mixture of longing and anticipation, I gently set the cup down.

As I swung open the door, my heart nearly burst from my chest as a majestic, mighty willow tree greeted me like an old friend—a guardian of secrets and dreams. Its vast, sweeping branches reached out with an almost pleading tenderness, brushing softly against the dew-kissed earth, stirred by the whisper of the breeze—a gentle song of longing and hope that caressed my soul. The morning sun spilled its golden, fiery light, dancing wildly and beautifully among the leaves, igniting everything around with a brilliance that felt almost too divine to be real. I stepped down the cabin's stairs, each movement an anticipation, drawn irresistibly toward this living masterpiece.

The ground beneath my feet was icy, unforgiving in its coldness, yet my heart burned hotter—burned with awe, with gratitude overwhelming me—that Charlie had brought me here, to this sanctuary of nature’s beauty. From this vantage point, the lake shimmered with a mesmerizing brilliance, its surface shimmering like liquid glass, reflecting the sky’s endless possibility. The small dock to the side, with its solitary boat gently rocking, beckoned me closer to it all. Every fiber of my being yearned to see the sunlight piercing through the curtain of shimmering branches, to feel its warmth seep into my veins, to become one with this scene of absolute perfection.

Driven by an unstoppable force of wonder and love, I pushed aside the delicate, whispering leaves of the willow, my heart pounding fiercely with excitement and reverence. And there, cradled at the tree’s roots, lay a tiny, weathered stone—a silent witness to countless secrets—its surface rough and moss covered. As I stooped, brushing away moss to reveal the etching beneath, my eyes focused on reading the engraving that was beneath.

“You shouldn’t be here,” the soft whisper hit me like a blow to the chest, making my head snap around in surprise. There she was—Charlie, her hair tangled and tousled from sleep, her breaths coming fast and shallow. And her eyes—oh, her eyes—held a pain so deep it cut straight through me. I’d never seen her look afraid before. I couldn’t comprehend it. I didn’t know how to make sense of this moment, this ache that radiated from her soul.

46

CHARLIE?

Present day - November 22nd - Town of Ashwood - Population 1,576 - 18 yrs old

In just one terrifying second, I truly believed she hadn’t recognized me. Her eyes drifted over my face, searching, almost indifferent, before settling somewhere beyond me—somewhere I couldn’t follow, some place that felt like an ache deep inside. Then, without a word, she turned her back and disappeared into the shadows of the cabin, leaving me stranded in silence and confusion.

I stood there awkwardly, heart pounding, torn between chasing after her or staying put. The ground beneath me was still half-covered in moss, and I slowly turned back to the cold stone, my fingers tingled as I cleared away the greenery and peered at the engraving. But what I saw twisted my stomach into a knot—something soured deep inside me.

That stone wasn’t just ancient and weathered; it was her headstone. Lilly’s grave. The weight of it hit me like a punch to the chest. I was about to retreat in shock, but my back collided with Charlie’s, and in that moment, I saw her face—a mask of unreadable emotion, impossible to decipher.

She gripped a thick coil of rope in her hand, and my entire body clenched with a surge of dread. “What are you doing?” I forced out, my insides twisting into a sharp knot that threatened to break apart.