Page 127 of Deliverance

I laugh at that. I’ve gotten a little bit of bi-curious vibes from Sky since I’ve known her. I mean, to be fair, she came here an innocent virgin and was basically sold off to Asher. Outside of her vigorous sex life with the guys, she hasn’t gotten the chance to experience much else. Then again, she did grow up in an all girls boarding school, so what do I know?

“Why are you looking at your phone? You wanted to watch this movie,” Maryia snaps.

Sighing, I pocket it before focusing on the TV. I chose the couch in Maryia’s room while she’s laying on the bed in a baggy t-shirt and a pair of panties. She’s very obviously trying to seduce me the way she’s poking her ass out, but it’s not working for me.

“You know you could at least come lay with me,” Maryia whines.

I let out a heavy sigh as I shake my head.

“I’m fine over here.”

“Okay, Maggie. What the fuck is going on?” she says as she turns off the TV and faces me.

“What do you mean?”

“You’ve been ridiculously distant lately. You hardly touch or kiss me. We haven’t fucked in weeks. What is going on?”

I stare at her blankly, mainly because I don’t know what to say.

“Don’t play dumb, Maryia. You’re smarter than that. You know exactly what is going on here.”

She frowns. “You still want to break up with me? Even if it means I kill myself? You’re okay living with that?”

Irritation flickers through me. I knew she was manipulating me from the beginning, but this just further proves it. People who are suicidal often don’t throw it out as casually as she does. They suffer in silence. Maybe when they get to a tipping point, they will ask for help. Most of the time, though, by the time you figure out they are considering it, it’s too late.

Like it almost was with Bridgette.

Bridgette’s mental health struggles and Maryia’s are not even comparable. The fact that she knows Bridgette just went through that, that I went through it beside her, and yet she’s using it as a leverage tool, is fucking disgusting.

“Sure, whatever.”

She balks at me, her mouth dropping open.

“Are you fucking serious?”

“Yeah, I am. Look, I pacified you because I do care about you. I don’t want to see you go down that dark path, let alone act on it, but this is ridiculous.”

“What? My love for you?” she defends.

“No! You’re fucking blackmailing me to be with you! Don’t you want someone who wants you back?”

“You said that you wanted me,” she says, her voice wobbling as tears fill her eyes. “You said that?—”

“I lied!” I shout. “You were holding a goddamn knife to your throat, telling me you were going to kill yourself if I didn’t tell you those things. What the fuck was I supposed to do? Enough is enough. I’m done. I truly hope you seek help. I want only the best for you. That just can’t be me, though.”

Standing to my feet, I grab my bag before heading for the door.

“You’re just going to walk out on me? On us? Just like that?!” she screams.

I look over my shoulder at her and shake my head.

“Just like that.”

Slamming the door shut, relief like I haven’t felt in weeks takes over me. It’s like I can breathe for the first time. I really do hope Maryia is okay. I hope she works through her stuff, but her mental health is not my responsibility. I tried to be a good person, tried to stick with her, but she is so deluded, I can’t take it anymore. I have to prioritize myself, my happiness. Feeling lighter than I have in a long time, I text my human embodiment of happiness.

Me: I want to see you tonight. Where are you?

I reach the elevators in Parris dorm before hitting the button when Bridgette’s text comes through.