Page 107 of All That Remains
"Rome...please...can we talk?Please?"
"I gotta go, Rafe. My flight departs in a couple of hours. I wish you’d come sooner—"
"I'll be quick—"
"Babe,no. We'll talk when I get back, alright? Ipromise."
"Wewon't, and you know we won't. You know youaren'tcoming back. You just wannaleave. You'd say anything to get me out the way," I spat. "I just wannafucking talk! What the fuck am I supposed to do while you're gone?!"
"You'll beokay, babe. Juststop. Iamcomin' back! You're makin' it worse than it has to be—way more difficult!"
"But you'releavingme…" I gasped, borderline hysterical. Tears slipping down my face and my throat when I shut my eyes. "Over afucking lie?”
"Rafe..." he sighed, setting his bag aside and grabbing my face. "Look at me..." I couldn't open my eyes. "Rafe,lookat me!"
I opened them and he was a blur. A dark, indistinct face hovering above mine. His voice miles away, like I’d been submerged underwater.
"I’m comin' back ASAP, okay? Just foryou." He kissed my face, then my lips, and I tasted the salt of my own tears. "And when I come back, we'll talk as long as we need to okay, baby?" I nodded and he picked up his bag again, but I hadn't budged. I was still blocking the door.
"Rafe, watch out, babe. Let's go. I gotta go. You hear me?" I stared off behind him, entranced by realities I'd put off far too long.
"Hello? Rafe? Are you listenin'?! Hey?!" he snapped. " I gottago! M'already late!"
I stood my ground. He exploded.
"Move, Ralph! Now!"
I was already losing him. I nodded and took a breath, then simply whispered: "I can't."
"What the fuck do you mean you can't?! Just get the fuck off the door, alright? What’s wrong with you?! Are you losin' your mind?!"
"I guess," I croaked.
He dropped his stuff for a third time and rubbed his hands down his face.
"You're really fuckin tryin' me, mate...you know that?"
That was the most terrifying thing I'd ever heard him say. His voice was barely veiled contempt. He would erupt again at any minute, and I, well, I was prepared to weather the storm.
"What do you want from me?" he asked, attempting to be civil once more.
"I want you to say we'll talk."
"Yes!We'll talk, you know we will! Have you ever heard of a fuckin' phone?!"
"I want you to say we'll talknow. I want you to cancel your flight—"
“Fuck!"he barked, storming away.
"I'm at least worth that, Rome. I'm at least worth a rescheduled flight, aren't I?”
"You're purposefully askin' for somethin' you know I can't fuckin' do, just to make me feel like shit. You're a miserable fuck and you're just tryin' to make me miserable too! You've been tryin' to make me feel like shit for weeks—"
"That's bullshit! You're the one punishing me for apetty lie. Rome, it was alie. I'm so sorry I said it. I know I fucked up. But I'm at least worth a rescheduled flight!"
He approached and I felt true fear.
"I'm not arguin' with you. I need to go!" he slammed his hands against the door on either side of my head. I dared to take both of his hands and kissed them until he stopped resisting.
