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“What?” I ask harshly, not daring to turn around.

“Thank you.”

I keep my eyes closed and wait for her to go; just counting the seconds until she leaves me alone and bereft once again, never to return. But my wishes and prayers are in vain as her hand travels ever so slowly down my back, feeling every ridge and hard muscle through the black dress shirt. Then her arms wrap around my waist, pressing her face to my back, torching me to ash.

“Vincent,” I hear her plea, and my name, so tinged with the same hollowed sadness I am imprisoned in, freezes me in place, reluctant to move an inch.

“Even if you were capable of hurting me, you would never get the respite you want by breaking me,” she explains, her grip tightening around me.

“So sure of that, are you? Ah,tesoro,I have grown quite ruthless in your absence.” I try to mock, but to my ears, it only sounds like a mournful lament.

“And that is why you couldn’t break me. I’m already broken,” she replies as her wet, silent tears soak through my shirt.

Memories, of a red-haired love, assault me viciously. A girl who did everything in her power to prevent any witnesses to her tears. But this lovely imposter is not as headstrong as before and lets the wet evidence of her anguish touch my skin through the imported fabric.

“So you say,” I reply, falling prey to her evil tactics, and placing my hands over hers.

My own fingers stroke her trembling ones as they insist in desperately holding me to her when my own couldn’t do the same once upon a time. As much as I pleaded and bargained for her to always stay in my arms, my hold was never binding enough.

“You don’t believe me?”

“It doesn’t matter anymore.” I shrug.

“It does to me,” she adds sullenly, placing one gentle kiss on my shoulder blade.

I turn around slowly in her arms and place my hands on each tear-filled cheek.

“Why? You clearly moved on without looking back,” I exclaim, but there is no malice in my voice, only heartbreak.

“I never moved on! Just replaced one life for an existence filled with cherished memories, recounting each one to keep me afloat. Do you honestly think you are the only one that hurts? Don’t be so vain, Vincent. I died the day I left you,” she announces with a cry.

Have mercy on my foolish soul, because I almost believe the lies she’s feeding me.

“For some time, I thought I would never be able to breathe again,” she continues, and I wipe one of her tears with my thumb.

“Until he came into your life,” I interject sorrowfully, ending her attempts to weaken me further.

“Yes. Until love came back into my life,” she admits without an ounce of shame.

“How quaint,” I bite back.

“Vincent… “ she starts to say, but I just pick her up and push her gently against the wall.

Her eyes open wide, revealing watery, green gems, and I unhook myself from her grasp, pulling her hand to trace over my engorged cock.

“You see how chaotic you make me feel? I loathe and despise everything you’ve done to me, yet I still want you. I want you at your best and at your worst. I want nothing but to fuck you right now, against this wall, even while you lie and shed your traitorous tears,” I croak, knowing I’m treading a thin line with my sanity, uttering such a confession.

“I tried to forget you. I tried so fucking hard, but after a few failed attempts, I gave up seeking comfort in cold, nameless arms. After you’ve made love to your soul mate, everyone that follows pales in comparison,” I continue to admit.

“Vincent.” She pulls her hand away from my crotch and starts grasping onto my collar, her tears falling even harder now.

“I hate you so much, Selene. But I want you just as fiercely as I ever did. You’ve ruined me!” I relent, starting to show the jagged edges of my mangled heart.

“Vincent, I know you don’t believe me, but I have always loved you. I always will!” she insists, her manic hands trying to keep their hold on me.

I lower my lips to her ears, wanting to make sure she knows I will never be fooled again with her lies.

“You’re right. I don’t believe you. Love is unconditional, and yours seems to come with strings. I’m done being your puppet,” I whisper, and I almost hear the loud crack being made to her heart and mine. “You were my weakness once. Now you’re just a reminder never to be weak again. Thank you for that lesson,tesoro.I will never forget it.”