Maestro

by Auden Dar

“What’s not enough?” Chad asks, enunciating each word slowly. A broken heart is nothing compared to a broken man. This is the only way we can have a real future together. I close and open my eyes, praying for strength. The understanding in Chad’s eyes turns cold. For a moment, it is Emil who stares down at me. It is Emil’s hands steering me and Chad like a master puppeteer. “This is Chadwick’s moment. Give it to him now!” he says, his mouth thin with contempt, twisting with threat. His words carry truth; words I can’t ignore. “What’s not enough?” Chad asks again, his face an inch away from mine, his nostrils flared. Words have power. And I’m going to use them like artillery. Three words burst out of me like bullets intending to hurt. To damage. “You’re not enough,” I hear myself say, our hearts breaking beneath the lie. His entire body goes rigid, too surprised to move. One heartbeat. Two heartbeats. Three heartbeats. He releases my hand, and I feel like I’ve lost a limb. He takes a step back. His head shakes from side to side, his eyes glaring at me like he’s never met me before. What have I done? Exactly what Emil wanted. Damage done.