I'll Be Long Gone

(WESLEY)

I know for a fact that Miles isn't just going to let me brush him off. Panic surges through me as I rack my brain for a lie that he might believe. I don't see how I can be candid with him. My mind jumps to a story that Papa once told me.

"Well…uhm…my reasons are rather personal." I stall

"Explain yourself." He demands with an unrelenting tone.

I try to think of how I'll cook up a believable story. I fidget while at it. I need to sound very sincere so that he buys the lie. I need to make it as real as possible. Otherwise, he will never accept my sad, made-up story. I focus on making my face melancholy. I'm praying that he buys the act. "Do you remember the incident that occurred six years ago?"

"Six years ago?" he scowls.

"Yeah, some civilians were gunned down in the city. In cold blood" I force myself to meet his gaze when in reality I know I could easily pee myself.  My insides are quaking with nervousness.