Bring Me Back

by B.A. Paris

It’s more proof that Ellen never goes against what I tell her, never disobeys me, and although it makes for a peaceful life, I find it perplexing.

I’d hate for her to have false hope.

They wanted to call the police, I remember, but Harry, spitting blood from his mouth, told them not to. Guilt replaced the rage I’d felt. I couldn’t bear to look at his bruised and swollen face so I left him bleeding in the bar. I knew I couldn’t go back to the flat so I found a hotel for the night and asked you to meet me there. When I told you what had happened, you were horrified, and then angry, because you’d never seen that side of me before. How I wish it could have stayed that way.

What about the cottage in St Mary’s? Surely you’re not going to keep it, now that you’re going to marry the sister?

That’s the thing about losing someone; you tend to remember every careless remark, even those made in jest.

The incident terrified both my parents and me. We’d had no idea of the touch-paper that nestled deep inside me, waiting to be ignited.

His calm ‘What’s up, buddy?’ reduced me to tears, because he automatically knew that if I was phoning in the middle of the night, it was because I needed him to get me out of a shit-load of trouble again. Within an hour I had a lawyer, within five Harry himself was with me. I owe him so much.

That’s what I’m planning to do to Ellen and Finn, divide them. And once I’ve managed to prise them apart, Finn will be exactly where I want him to be. And this time, it will be Ellen who will disappear.

ready to say the words that will bring me back.

Didn’t he realise that he was dancing to my tune and still had a lot of steps to learn?

needed to impose a deadline.

You told her that if she could get Finn to love her, she could have him. You told her that as long as she looked after him, you would stay away, you would never come back.