Page 116 of Once in a Lifetime, Part 2

Ody’s breath caught.

“To feel like nothing? Like you don’t matter? To let people do whatever they want to you… because you can’t stop them?”

Nick lowered his lashes.

“I had to learn how to fight at fifteen,” he continued. “Not because I wanted to… Because I had to survive. And even then, I had to be careful. One wrong move, and they’d go after her too. I let them beat me. Every day. Until I could fight back. And when I did… they put me in the hospital.”

Nick’s tears fell.

“They destroyed her house. Her car. And you…” Mano’s voice faltered. “Where were you?”

Nick didn’t answer.

“Where were you when I was lying in a hospital bed covered in bruises?” His vision blurred. “When I cried myself to sleep every night… and all I wanted was my big brother?” A tear slid down his cheek. “Where were you?”

Silence settled. Ody couldn’t breathe.

“The fact that I’m standing here right now… You owe that to her. If it wasn’t for Auntie…” He swallowed, his gaze lowering for the first time. “I wouldn’t be here.”

Ody’s eyes widened.

“I held on for her,” Mano whispered. “I didn’t want to leave her alone. She’d already lost her sister. And you were gone too. If I had left as well… she wouldn’t have survived it.”

Nick broke into tears.

“And after all that…” Mano let out a hollow laugh. “You thought we were starting over?”

Nick wiped at his face, shaking.

“I can’t forgive you,” Mano said. “I don’t have it in me.” He looked at him, all emotion gone from his face. “So please… I’m begging you. Just go. Get the fuck out of my life. Seeing you just… hurts too much.”

Nick lowered his gaze, his breath unsteady. He stayed still. Then his eyes lifted to Ody. Take care of him. He looked back at Mano, like he wanted to say something, but nothing came. He swallowed the words. Then he turned and walked out.

The door closed behind him.

Mano stayed where he was, staring at it, tears clinging to his lashes.

Ody didn’t move.

Mano turned away first. He crossed the room and sank onto the couch, staring at nothing in particular. The silence between them stretched.

“You never told me…”

Mano glanced at him. “Told you what?”

Ody swallowed. “That… you wanted to end your life.”

Something flickered across Mano’s expression, then disappeared.

“Please, Mano…” Ody crossed the room and dropped to his knees in front of him. “Tell me you haven’t thought about it again. Tell me that thought never came back. Please.” His hands closed around Mano’s arms, tightening. “Promise me,” he pleaded, panic creeping in. “Promise me you’ll never think about it again.”

Mano didn’t answer.

That silence broke something in Ody. “Promise me!” The words tore out of him as he shook him, eyes glassy.

Mano’s composure faltered, his lower lip trembling.

“Don’t do this to me…” Ody’s voice dropped into a plea. “I’m begging you… please.” His head fell into Mano’s lap, his shoulders shaking.