Push Him In
1095 Words
The sun was brutal. Emily threw her arm over her face, squinting against the sun bouncing off the pool. Beside her, Jenna did the same, both of them sprawled on loungers in their bikinis.
“I swear those seagulls are getting bigger and louder,” Jenna said, watching one swoop past. “That thing could carry off a small child.”
“They’re evolving. Planning world domination.”
A waiter appeared with two glasses of white wine on a tray. Emily sat up slightly.
“Oh, thank God. Our wine is here.”
“Thank you,” Jenna said, taking hers.
The waiter nodded and left. Emily took a long sip and sighed. Perfect. Exactly what she needed after last night.
“So where’s Marco?” Jenna asked.
Emily shrugged. “No idea. He wasn’t there when I woke up.”
“What do you mean he wasn’t there?”
“I mean he was gone. Bed was empty. I called him twice. No answer.”
Jenna frowned. “That’s weird.”
“It’s not weird. It’s Marco.” Emily took another sip. “He does this all the time. Disappears for hours. Work. His friends. Whatever. I’m always last on the list.”
“Em”
“I’m serious. Last night was my birthday, and the second we got back to the room, he passed out. Didn’t even say goodnight. Then this morning, gone. Like I don’t even exist.”
Jenna didn’t say anything. She didn’t need to. They’d had this conversation before.
“Where’s David?” Emily asked, changing the subject.
Jenna turned left, and then right, ohh over there, Jenna pointed across the pool. “Right there. Getting us more towels like the angel he is.”
“Must be nice.”
“It is.”
Emily looked down at her wine glass. She hated feeling like this. Hated that she even had to complain about her own boyfriend on her birthday weekend. But Marco made it so easy to feel unimportant.
Footsteps approached from behind. Emily didn’t turn around, but she heard him before she saw him.
“There’s my girl.”
Marco dropped into the chair beside her, leaning over to kiss her. Emily turned her head. His lips caught her cheek instead.
“Where have you been?” she asked.
“What do you mean?”
“I woke up and you were gone. I’ve been calling you.”
“Oh, yeah. Sorry. My phone died.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. “But look what I got you.”
Emily stared at the box. He opened it. Inside was a bracelet. Thin. Silver. Cheap-looking.
“It’s nice,” she said flatly.
“I knew you’d love it.” He grinned like he’d just given her diamonds.
“Marco. Where were you?”
“I went to that little market in town. You know, the one near the harbor. Got you this.”
Emily’s chest tightened. “We were supposed to go there together.”
“I know, but you were sleeping. I didn’t want to wake you.”
“So you just went without me.”
“I didn’t think it was a big deal.”
“Of course you didn’t.”
Marco sighed, leaning back in his chair. “Em, come on. You just had surgery. I didn’t want to stress you out….”
“Stop.” Emily held up a hand. “Stop using that as an excuse.”
“It’s not an excuse….”
“Yes, it is. You’ve been using it for months. ‘You just had surgery, Em. Don’t stress, Em. Take it easy, Em.’ I’m fine, Marco. I’ve been fine. You just don’t care.”
“I don’t care?” He sat up, his voice rising slightly. “Are you serious right now?”
“Yes. I’m serious. What am I to you? Because it doesn’t feel like I’m your girlfriend. It feels like I’m just… here.”
Marco opened his mouth, then closed it. He didn’t have an answer. He never did.
Instead, he reached into his pocket again and pulled out a card. “Look. I got us tickets to that restaurant you wanted to try. The one on the cliffs. We can go tonight. Together.”
Emily took the card. Looked at it. Looked at him.
“Aw, Marco,” she said softly. “That’s so sweet.”
He smiled.
She stood up, walked over to him, and shoved him into the pool.
He hit the water hard, came up sputtering.
“Now f**k off,” Emily said, and walked away.
--------------------
By the time the sun went down, Emily was still angry. She’d spent the rest of the afternoon in her room, ignoring Marco’s texts. Jenna had come by once to check on her, but Emily told her she was fine. She wasn’t fine.
She was tired. Tired of being second. Tired of being an afterthought.
She sat on the edge of the bed and cried. Not loud, dramatic crying. Just quiet tears that she couldn’t stop.
Eventually, she wiped her face and stood up. She needed to get out of this room. Needed to stop thinking about Marco and his stupid excuses and his stupid cheap bracelet.
She grabbed her purse and left.
The club was loud and packed. Emily pushed her way to the bar and ordered a drink. Then another. Then another. The music pounded in her chest, the lights spinning above her, and for a while, she didn’t think about anything.
When she finally stumbled out into the street, the air was cool and sobering. She pulled out her phone to call a cab, but the screen was blurry. She blinked, trying to focus.
The street was narrow, buildings rising on either side. Quiet. Empty.
She heard an engine. Turned. Headlights coming toward her.
She stepped to the side, but the car slowed. Emily’s pulse kicked up. She turned down another street, walking faster.
Footsteps behind her.
Her heart was racing now. She moved to the right, toward the main road where there’d be people, lights, safety.
She glanced back. A mab was standing behind, he said good evening ma’am.
Then she felt it. A sharp sting in her neck.
Emily gasped, her hand flying to the spot, but her legs were already giving out. She hit the ground slowly, her vision blurring.
A shadow loomed over her.
Then everything went dark.
- Writer
