Lorraine

He had his hand on my left cheek, fiery and firm. Avoiding the gaze of both him and my date I waited to be scolded.

“My precious Lorraine is this what you’re doing nowadays, hanging out with the likes of him.” The way Adrian emphasized him sent a chill down my spine. There was nothing I could say that would please Adrian and I was hoping that the cat wouldn’t be let out of the bag.

“Who are you,” Lucas inquired and protested simultaneously. Adrian removed his hand.

“Oh look it talks. Who I am is not important.” I mustered up enough courage to look him in the eye.

“Adrian, please.”

“What?!” His eyes glowed. “Lorraine don’t you think this brute deserves to be warned?” From the corner of my eye I saw that Lucas had stopped struggling with Adrian’s men.

“Can’t I be happy, just once Adrian?”

“But my dear you can only be happy with us. You destroy everything else, not on purpose of course; it’s just the way you are.” He was right and I fought to hold back the tears.

“Don’t listen to him Lorraine. You do deserve to be happy.”

“And she is Lucas, she just forgets sometimes.” Adrian moved to stand behind me, his scent of myrrh overpowering my mind. “You see this she-devil here loves feasting on hearts, figuratively speaking.” Adrian’s speech was more to me than Lucas. “I’m sure you’re a nice person, good willed and all, so try to see this as me doing you a favor.”

“A favor huh? Look we like each other alright and obviously you can’t handle that. Just go crawl back into whatever hole you came out of.” The dam had broken and the tears couldn’t be held back any longer.

“Well what do we have here? I think you made her cry Lucas. Oh I will be going soon enough and Lorraine will be coming with me.” Adrian positioned his face so close to mine that I could feel his breathe on my neck. “Would you like to tell the oblivious brute what happened to the last guy that had a thing for you?”

“Please Adrian,” I begged again.

“Well then I guess it’s up to me.” He dramatically cleared his throat. “The last guy, what was his name again? Bill? John? Ah whatever. Anyway the last guy is now an alcoholic. She didn’t just break his heart she ripped it out of his chest and mangled it beyond repair. Isn’t that right Lorraine?”
“I don’t believe you.” Lucas’ counterattack was worth nothing.

“Lorraine?”

“Yes,” I whispered.

“A little louder dear, I don’t think he heard you.”

“Yes,” I said before burying myself into Adrian. He wrapped his arms around me.

“See Lucas, I don’t lie.” Adrian must have given them the signal to release him for his voice was so close.

“Lorraine, we all have our demons; let go of yours. Let yourself be happy.” I looked up, tear streaked face and all.

“Lucas, some of us are the demons.” Not being able to look at him any longer I turned my gaze towards the floor. “Your life will be better now.” Before he could protest Adrian stepped in.

“Now that you kids are done with your goodbyes I believe it’s time for us to go.” Putting his hand on my shoulder I walked with Adrian leaving Lucas behind.

I wondered if ending the relationship before it could truly start hurt him more than anything I would have done in the future. As if reading my thoughts Adrian said, “you did the right thing my dear.” Leaning into his body and getting lost in myrrh my mind stopped racing. I felt Adrian’s smile as we walked on.