Chapter 10
490words
Glancing over my shoulder, I saw Nathan standing there, frozen.
He looked shattered, pale, eyes wide with panic.
He rushed over, stammering, "Maya... I... let me explain!"
I raised my hand, pushing him away coldly.
"Explain what?"
"That you and Lily Johnson were pure? That you were framed?"
I pulled out my phone, tapped the screen.
"Then what about these bed photos of you and her?"
My eyes instantly reddened, a lump forming in my throat.
"Nathan Campbell, did you think I was an idiot? That I'd never find out?"
The day after Lily died, Nathan was visibly agitated.
He paced outside, smoking, phone in hand.
That night, after he fell asleep, I unlocked his phone.
I found his secret.
Photos. Of him and Lily. In bed.
I felt like I'd been struck by lightning.
I couldn't believe it. My love. My sister.
Nathan's face flushed crimson. "No! It's not like that!"
"I love you, Maya!"
"Lily... she was just... a distraction! I didn't love her!"
"It was her! She came onto me, climbed into my bed! I lost control, I..."
He couldn't finish. He pointed an accusing finger.
"It was your fault!"
"Three years together! You never let me touch you! Do you know what that does to a man?"
"You never loved me!"
"If you loved me, you wouldn't have done that!"
I looked at him calmly, a profound sadness settling in my heart.
Didn't I want to give myself to him completely?
But with this body covered in horrific scars... how could I ever bare myself to him?
I never told him about my home life.
I never imagined it would become his excuse for betrayal.
How laughable!
"Nathan Campbell, stop making excuses for your cheating."
"We were never on the same path."
"We're done."
I turned and walked away, not once looking back.
...
One month later, Jake Wilson's trial concluded.
He was sentenced to 15 years for rape and murder.
People called my sister, Lily Johnson, the architect of her own demise, undeserving of pity.
My stepmother and ex-fiancé Nathan became social pariahs.
Helen and Nathan came to see me a few times, begging forgiveness. I ignored them.
Later, I heard my mother jumped into the river one night.
Nathan became infamous online, lost his job, his family's business tanked.
He vanished from my world.
I went back to the village to see Charlie.
We sat under the old oak tree at the village entrance. He pressed something into my hand.
A piece of candy.
I paused. It was wedding candy. The kind I'd brought back for him before Lily died. I wanted to share my happiness.
Now, he was giving it back.
Charlie stuffed his own mouth full, urging me.
"Maya, eat!"
"Eat candy! No more bitter!"
I smiled and put the candy in my mouth.
The sweetness spread through my mouth.
So sweet.
(The End)
