singes the brim of my nose, eyes watering with toxic rain as smoke from the potion plumes up.

why are you doing this now?

all these months you've been nothing but cruel, and i grew accustomed.

yet you decide to flip the script and be... kind. it's confusing and insulting. do you truly value me so little?

that's a stupid question, of course you don't care.

but part of me feels as if you're getting desperate. you don't like it when people don't do as they're told. you snuff out their confidence the moment you sense a spark. you need people dependent on you.

you need to be needed, don't you, thomas?

but this... this was a type of unnecessary violence i am simply not built to withstand. your confession felt like a mockery. a devil walking to the pew faking repentance and making the holy feel like fools.

the potion fizzed beneath me as droplets fell in and i scraped my cheeks with my fingers. everything hurt.

maybe i should die first.

i'm sure you'd prefer that. it's the only way you'll accept someone leaving you.

is that why you killed you parents?

would you like me to tell you?

your breath is hot on my neck like a dragon getting ready to melt its prey. i close my eyes.

i told you to leave me alone.

i didn't listen.

i can't start crying again.

don't act like you need me.

you turn me around gently, your eyes dark but offering a hollow impression of warmth. you're just ink. just drown me in it already. i don't get what's stopping you.

why did you do this to me, i whisper.

you sigh, but i know it's coming from a place of pity and you rest your chin atop my head. your fingers running lightly over by back like you're trying to count how many bones you'd have to break to get at my heart.

you did this to yourself, diana.