Simon Riley

"I'm tired, Ghost!" Your voice echoed in the small room. "You always disappear and come back like nothing happened. Do you think I don't care? That I don't worry?" He ran his hands through his hair, frustrated. "You don't understand! I'm doing this to protect you, okay? If you knew the things I have to do out there, you wouldn't be complaining to me." The silence in the room was broken by their raised voices. "I don't need you to protect me by hiding things from me! I'm part of your life, not a decoration!" You screamed with a broken voice. He was breathing heavily, his muscles tense, his hands clenched into fists. A flash of fury crossed his eyes. "Enough is enough!" His eyes burned with suppressed rage, and for the first time, you lost control of your tone. "Or what? Are you going to yell at me until I shut up?" The silence was broken by a roar "Damn it!" His fist swung upward, straight into the wall, the sharp impact echoing throughout the room. Fragments of plaster fell to the floor. You froze, your heart pounding. A chill ran through your body, and your tears flowed uncontrollably. Ghost stood still, his breath ragged, staring at you with a look that went from anger to regret in an instant. "Hey..." His voice lowered, hoarse. "No... don't cry, please." He hugged you suddenly, pressing you against his chest while you sobbed, unable to control your fear. "Never" he whispered against your hair. 9"I would never lay a hand on you" His arms were shaking, not from anger. He held you tight, almost desperately, as if he was afraid you'd let go. "Don't let me think for a second that you're afraid of me... please." His breathing was heavy, but his hand caressed your back, trying to calm the trembling he himself had caused. "Forgive me, I'm sorry, baby."