only room I use besides the kitchen and my bathroom,” he said. “I’ve left the other rooms alone since I moved in. All that stuff is mine.” He pointed to the dozens of movies and piles of records lined up on the various bookshelves, along with a stereo and laptop that sat on a Queen Anne-style desk set against one wall.
“This must be so awesome, to live in a place like this,” I said. “It has so much wisdom. It’s beautiful. So you sleep in here, too?”
“Yup. I have everything I need right here. I rarely venture upstairs.” He walked back toward the doorway, gesturing for me to follow. “Today’s an exception, though.”
We entered a bedroom whose drapes had been pulled, allowing no light to filter through. The entire room looked still inhabited, covers pulled back on the bed, jewelry astray on the vanity table, awaiting its next wearing. I could even smell the scent of a perfume, something sweet, floral. But the room itself smelled a little musty, as if it had tightly sealed in the scent for some time and was now finally able to breathe again. The rest of the room was perfectly maintained: no dust in sight, the dresser and bedside tables spotless.
“My mother’s room,” he said, leading me to the dresser. “She stayed with my grandfather for a while after my father died. This was hers, and I’d like to give it to you.” He pulled open a modest wood jewelry box and retrieved a necklace. Holding it out to me, I could see the exquisite silver-toned vintage necklace held a crescent moon-shaped locket.
“I am in love with you, Camille,” he declared. I took a step back.
“My father gave this to my mother years ago, and I can tell you that he loved her as much as I love you. My parents had a love that I could only hope for. And then I found you, and I’ve never been more sure of anything in my entire life. Please wear it?” He tried to restrain his boyish eagerness as he spoke, although his eyes sorely betrayed him.
I realized I had forgotten to breathe. This time there was no dysfunction with my lungs, but instead, I’d voluntarily held my breath. I was nervous, but oddly, not surprised; I knew it would come to this, knew we were meant to be together as though it was a physiological need. Only a few short weeks ago Gavin felt familiar, but still new. Tonight, I was sure I’d known him for years. As I stared into his sincere eyes, I saw the assurance of his love for me, and a straightforward understanding free of useless, idle talk, and above all else, complication. Something finally genuine. Exactly what I had been waiting for.
Now, here stood the beautiful light in my dark world, verbalizing for the first time something we both already knew. Waiting. Hoping that I would return his feelings.
I finally breathed, giving him a smile to show him my acceptance. “Of course I’ll wear it. I love you, too.”
“I know it seems so soon.”
“It doesn’t matter. You’re what I want.” I stepped toward him and turned around, lifted the hair from the back of my neck so he could put the necklace on me. He didn’t move. I turned my head to the side to peer at him. “What’s wrong?”
“You’re so sure of me,” he said. “I don’t know how I possibly deserve you.”
“Will you put the necklace on, already?”
He stared at me for another second, then slid it around my neck, closing the clasp. I turned around to look up at him, adjusted the locket around my neck. “I want to be with you,” I said. “That’s all that matters. I don’t care how long it has or hasn’t been. I know all I need to know about you.”
His face began to tense up, and I could tell he was searching for his thoughts’ words.
“I’m yours,” I said. “And I’m not afraid of this.” I searched for his eyes again. “Period.”
“I don’t even know what to say to that.”
“Don’t think so much.” I moved my mouth to his and grazed his cheek with my bandaged hand. I felt him flinch as he kissed me, his neck stiffening with the movement. Suddenly clutching my wounded hand away from his cheek with immense force, he flung an arm around my waist and hurled me backward, pinning me up against the wall. I immediately felt Andrew’s violent hands on me, and