"He touched me."
"Who?"
Eli looked her up and down, quickly, searching urgently for a reiteration of sorts.
He needed to hear an explanation, so his heart would stop thudding so uncomfortably in its restraints.
"Who touched you, Clare?"
A moment passed before she whispered the two-syllable name of a man she wished to never see again.
"Asher."
A moment of silence passed between them.
"Tell me you don't mean what I think you mean."
Her lip quivered. Tears poured down her supple, porcelain cheeks.
She bit down hard on her lip.
"Where?" He trembled.
He didn't really want to know.
He needed to know.
"Everywhere."
It was like the world halted.
She didn't look at him.
He felt faint.
She stepped back a few feet.
"Clare."
"Please don't." She cried. "Don't treat me any differently."
"Clare."
"I just want to forget, okay? Please."
"You won't be able to."
She looked up at him.
"I can try."
"It won't work." He argued.
"It's for the best."
"I'm calling the police."
Time halted again.
"I'll deny it."
She felt nauseous.
He still felt faint.
"No, you won't."
Her knees buckled.
He caught her.
She pushed him away.
"Please, don't touch me."
He recoiled.
She cringed at his look of devastation.
"I love you, Clare."
She shook her head.
"I don't want you to."
He began to cry.
She walked away.
