Chapter 23: When The Mask Comes Off.

*Lena*

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

His shoulders shook with silent sobs, and my tears spilled over, running down my cheeks in hot, unrelenting streams. “Lena… why?” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “Is this why you left?”

The tears flowed freely, mingling with the blood and grime on my face. “Yes,” I confessed, my voice choking with sorrow. “I didn’t want you to see the monster I’d become.”

Eason shook his head, disbelief written across his features. “Monster? Lena, I… I don’t understand. Why couldn’t you just tell me?”

“Because I didn’t want to lose you!” The words burst out of me, raw and desperate. “I couldn’t bear the thought of you looking at me the way you are right now, with fear and disgust. I thought… I thought if I left, you’d be able to move on, to have a normal life. You couldn’t have that with me like this!”