Page 38 of Maxim

Waking up slowly, I feel lethargic.

What happened to me?

Blinking my eyes open slowly, I recognize the ceiling. That’s when it hits me.

I’m not dead. There’s no way this is the afterlife.

I survived.

I groan, trying to push up on my arms, but I’m weak and fall back to the bed.

“Let me help you.”

I turn to find Maxim at my side. He picks me up, helping me sit up. He even goes as far as readjusting my pillows.

“What happened? Why am I still here?”

He winces at my words. “You’re okay now. Everything is going to be okay.”

Tears fill my eyes. “I don’t want everything to be okay. I wanted to be gone. I can’t keep living like this.”

He grows silent. “I’m sorry for my part in making you want to kill yourself. It was never my intention. I’ve done everything I have to protect you. I see now that I have failed.”

Guilt settles into my stomach. How ironic? I feel guilty for making the man who bought me feel bad for failing me.

I swear life can’t get any stranger than this.

Still, I feel bad. I never wanted this to affect Maxim.

“This was never about you. I don’t want to live anymore. How did you even save me?”

“I came home and heard you in the bath. When you had been in there for a while, I came to check on you.” His eyes start tearing up as he looks at me. “I thought I lost you.”

“Why do you even care?” I spit at him.

It’s cruel. The man is obviously traumatized by what I did, but I can’t help it. I don’t trust him.

“I’m not the man you think I am. I’m not here to hurt anyone. All I want to do is to stop all the pain and suffering. Can’t you see that?”

“Well then, maybe you shouldn’t be going out and buying women. That sends mixed signals.”

“Do you think I wanted to buy you? I never wanted to buy anyone, but you showed up on that stage and I couldn’t let them hurt you. I had to buy you to protect you. Don’t you get that? I bent the rules because of you.”

I don’t understand what he is talking about, but I don’t care. I can’t. If I do, I might just find a reason to live. Unless my siblings are with me, I don’t want that.

“It doesn’t matter. I need to be with my siblings. I don’t think you understand what it is like to live in that house with that man. You bought me and left them unprotected. You say you want to help? Help them. Go get them. Bring them here. Then I will be happy.”

He shakes his head as he sniffles, wiping his eyes. “We both know I can’t do that. Your father would never stop looking for them or us. We would never be safe. I want to save them, but it will take time. I will need your trust.”

“How am I supposed to trust you? You buy me, then lock me up like Rapunzel. This isn’t right. My life has never been right. All I want is to be with my siblings. Why can’t you understand that?”

“I understand it completely, but there is nothing I can do. You can sit here and throw your fit. You can throw things orhit me. You can do anything except end your life. I refuse to allow you to take light from this world. Because you are, Olena.???????The light in the darkness. I see that now. I will be better. I will care for you better. I will push harder to get the mission complete, then I will bring your siblings to you.”

“Don’t say empty words. Nothing short of having my siblings in my arms will make me believe you.”

“I know, and I don’t expect you to. It will take time, which I know we don’t have a lot of. It doesn’t matter if you believe me or not. I will be doing everything I can to rescue your siblings. The real question is, are you willing to stay alive long enough to greet them when I do? I have to be honest with you, if I save them and they have no one to come to, then what am I saving them from to run to? Foster care?”

I get what he is saying. I don’t like it, but I understand it.