Page 31 of Traces of Her

Looking past him, I see Rowena as her footsteps falter on the stairs at the sound of my words. Recovering quickly, she follows Scarlet with a hint of sadness and a lingering hurt in her eyes, a look I’d never wish to see and one that no one would notice but me.

I’m the one who put that look in her eyes.

And only I can be the one to erase it.

She needs to hate me and with time, she will.

She has to mean nothing to me, but she never will.

She’s burrowed under my skin like a parasite and I’m her host.

We’re fucked and I have to make the choice for us both.

It’s our only option and once again, she’ll have to become a ghost.