Somehow, despite me being on watch, trying to predict what he would do, he surprises me. Again. I probably should have known better.
"I thought we agreed." A whisper through clenched teeth, a body pressed against mine. I scramble to find leverage, a tiny hint of a vulnerability that could feed into- more- air-
The newspaper falls from my grasp, my whole body goes rigid. His fingers are crushing my windpipe. I should have known better.
Quickening breath, drawn-out against the nape of my neck, "We agreed."
His grasp goes stiffer, my throat constricting, saliva fills my mouth. I try to force a finger in-between his clasped hand, somehow pry it away.
One – two- three- The pressure cuts off once my elbow connects with his stomach, and with a hiss of pain, his hand falls.
I spin out of his reach, drawing a shaky breath.
"We agreed, didn't we?" There is fury in his eyes I have never seen before.
"What in the fuck-" I try speaking but my voice breaks, a coughing fit making my eyes water. There is disgust in the way he levels his head at me.
"We agreed!" he shouts. He clumsily tries to shrug off his coat, arms getting caught within its folds.
Blood roars in my ears. "We did agree," I say slowly. With a tight-lipped smile, I close my eyes. "It had been for the best, love."
The force of the blow makes me lose my balance, and with a hand tightly clasping my right cheek, I stare up at him. My stomach drops. He bares his teeth and there is a vein pulsating underneath the thin skin of his forehead. He rolls up the sleeves of his purple shirt, his eyes never leaving mine.
It is a game, just a game, no matter what either of us says. One that will not end even after going across the horizon. The winners and losers change but this is for the best.
I feel the blood on my lip, my face swelling up, and yet my smile grows only wider, tears stinging in the corners of my eyes. I should have known better.