Page 57 of ’Til You Break

He has a strange way of showing it, but I’m beginning to understand that’s simply who Vik is. Nothing about him is normal. Oddly enough, the more I understand him, the more I’m drawn to him.

This realization comes with its own burden. Vik has shown me every side of himself—the good, the bad and the ugly. I’m still hiding parts of myself. Still keeping secrets. Still pretending my life fell apart because of someone else’s actions.

“I need to tell you something, Vik.”

“Okay.” He shuffles closer.

“It’s about why I’m here,” I say with a sigh. “I lied to you.”

“I know.”

I turn to him. “How?”

“Because you’re not very good at lying, Hannah. I knew the day you moved in. I just didn’t care.” He slips an arm around my shoulders and pulls me against him.

“So... tell me what happened.”

“I got fired for trying to help someone who was in pain.” It’s hardly the whole story, but I don’t want him thinking I was simply bad at my job. “He couldn’t afford the medical bills, but he couldn’t live with the pain either. The hospital called him a junkie. They said I was incompetent and untrustworthy. And that’s how I ended up here.”

“Fuck ’em,” Vik says.

It’s not the response I expected, but I can’t help smiling.

“But why did you break protocol for him?” he asks.

“I made a promise to do right by people who need it.”

I take a slow breath. “Because years ago...”

Here it comes. The truth. Warts and all.

“I killed someone.”

“You what?” His tone barely changes. For a moment, I wonder if he already knows.

I made my mother promise never to tell anyone, but the promises made to frightened children aren’t always kept. Still, I decide to believe he doesn’t know.

So, I tell him everything. Running away from home. The accident. The dying man’s face. Every word drags the memories back to the surface.

Vik doesn’t interrupt. He listens. He strokes my cheek when the tears begin to fall. He simply holds me.

“You didn’t kill anyone, Hannah. He died because of his own foolish choices. He drove drunk.” His thumb brushes away another tear.

“You weren’t malicious. You were a frightened child trying to escape a bad situation.”

“You really think so?” My voice catches.

As though sensing my distress, Muffin stretches, purring loudly before he pads across the bed and flops into my lap.

“I’ve seen the worst this world has to offer.” Vik reaches over to stroke Muffin. “I’ve looked into the eyes of real monsters. You aren’t one of them.”

A sense of calm washes over me. Fresh tears spill down my cheeks as I bury my face against his chest. This time, they aren’t tears of guilt. They’re tears of relief.

Nothing has changed between us. If anything...

We’ve only grown closer.

For the first time since Vik walked into that diner, I truly believe we might have a future together.