Grace's Shadow

I wasn't expecting her.

I was absorbed in my thoughts as I was leaving the university library when Grace suddenly appeared in front of me.

Her appearance was stunning—too stunning for the harm she bore. Her face was unreadable, her clothes were flawless, and her black hair was sleek.

"Crane," she remarked in a cool, icy tone.

I went cold. "Grace."

Her head was cocked. "Are you still shattering hearts and acting as though it doesn't matter?"

I took a swallow. "What are you looking for?"

She took a step forward. "Avoid being near my brother."

I blinked. "What?"

"Elias," she said emphatically. "You've done this family enough. You are not allowed to play with him.

"I'm not playing."

"Oh, but you are." She squinted. “And we are both aware of the conclusion. You discard them after taking what you desire.”

"That is untrue," I yelled.

Her smile was piercing. "Remember how you cheated on me?"

"I had no idea that he was your brother!" I fired back.

She didn't recoil. "Now you do."

She leaned closer. "Crane, you won't ruin him. I'll set you on fire first.”

Then, her heels clicking like gunshots, she turned and left.

My stomach fell in an instant.

She wasn't shouting. She wasn't in tears.

She was at ease.

And it was much, much worse.

I barged into Elias's flat later that day. I didn't knock at all. Before I could bang on the door, he opened it.

"You informed her," I charged.

Amused, he leaned against the doorframe. "Told her what?"

"All she did was threaten me."

Elias shrugged and remarked, "She always liked drama." "Enter now."

Still furious, I followed him inside. "You find this amusing?"

"No." He went to a tiny drawer and took out a folded object. "But this could be."

He gave me a picture.

It was ancient. Faded. However, I knew who they were.

Grace, Elias, and I.

We were children. At a summer camp. Elias's eyes remained the same, but he appeared smaller and softer.

"Remember?" he said softly.

My mouth became parched. "Is this... real?"

He whispered, "You gave me my first crush."

I looked at him.

He gave a small laugh. "Like a puppy, I followed you around." You can't recall?

I gave a headshake. "I was only a child."

"I was, too." He took a step toward her. "However, some things are permanent."

I was at a loss for words. I had the impression that everything was distorted and that the ground was moving beneath me.

"You believe that this is merely retaliation?" he inquired. That was how it began. But that is no longer the case.”

I parted my lips. I closed it. Left without saying anything.

The situation worsened at the party.

I merely wanted to show my face and go, I told myself. Drinks were flowing and music was blaring at a college home party. People are flirting, dancing, and laughing.

Elias arrived as I was halfway through a beer.

He didn't glance at me. Leaning over the kitchen counter, he flirted with a tall man who had a sleeve of tattoos.

I made an effort not to observe.

Elias, however, smirked as he leaned in to say something in the man's ear after catching my attention. The man chuckled. Quite loudly.

People turned to look.

“I guess Crane isn’t the only one Elias is playing,” a close person chuckled.

Heat began to creep up my neck.

Later, Elias grabbed my wrist as I walked along the hallway.

"Are you jealous?" he said.

I growled, "You're playing games."

Calmly, he added, "And you're playing them too."

I wrenched my hand away. "Out of the public eye."

He smiled. "It's too late."

The remainder of the group became hazy. With my head whirling and my heart racing, I departed early.

There was a conversation. Observing.

Worst of all?

I wasn't positive if I detested it.

I looked at my apartment's ceiling.

I hadn't slept. My phone was buzzing nonstop with texts, but none of them were from Elias.

I couldn't explain why my chest hurt.

I detested this. I hated having him in my thoughts.

What was going on with me?

I got up at last. Put on a sweatshirt. And departed.

I rapped more forcefully on the door of his flat.

Slowly, as if anticipating me, Elias opened it.

"This must stop," I said quietly.

"All right," he responded, moving aside. "Enter and bid farewell appropriately."

Uncertain whether I was entering a farewell or anything else, I entered.

My voice trembled as I said, "I'm serious."

He looked over at me. "So, Crane, why are you here?"

I didn't respond.

He approached me on foot. Pulled me into a quick, intense kiss that made me forget to breathe.

I kissed him in return.

Clothes fall to the ground. The room was hot. I just felt; I didn't think.

I turned to him later as we lay entangled in his sheets, perspiration cooling our flesh.

I said, "This is meaningless."

Elias smiled and ran his fingertips across my cheek.

"Are you still not interested in men?" He said.

My heart stopped beating.

Because I had forgotten the solution