Her voice grew smaller and smaller until it dissolved into sobs.
Rupert gently patted her back. After a long moment, he finally spoke.
"Yolanda, you're too kind."
"You're defending her, but do you know what she really thinks?"
"If she hadn't encouraged you, why would you have gone to a place like that?"
"She thought you were annoying, so she dumped you there, hoping those men would..."
He didn't finish, but his meaning was clear.
Yolanda's face went pale.
She shook her head violently, tears flying.
"No! Aileen would never do that!"
Rupert held her tighter, his voice low.
"She would. That's exactly the kind of woman she is."
"You're too young to understand how evil people can be. But I do. And I won't let her hurt you again."
Yolanda tried to say something more, but Rupert pressed her back against his chest.
"Don't worry. I'll go get her in three days."
With that, he switched off the light and lay down on Yolanda's bed, pulling her into his arms.
His fingers combed gently through her hair.
And I watched Rupert, so utterly certain that nothing could happen to me.
For a moment, I couldn't even cry.
No tears. No breath. No heartbeat.
Only a feeling remained—colder than death, sharper than pain.
So this was what it meant to have your heart cut to pieces.
Even when the soul had shattered, it still hurt.
"Rupert, wait three days before coming to get me."
"I'll probably already be rotting by then."
