Ginger Fox Part 2

“ He’s not coming, is he, Baby? Roy isn’t coming.”
“He locked himself in his office, only coming out to speak with the detective about Jon’s situation.” I close my eyes, letting tears roll down, breathing with pain. “He doesn’t want to hurt you anymore, Gim. Jonathan wants you to be happy…”
Happiness has become an empty word. I can’t be happy after everything that’s happened. I felt happiness beside Jon, I felt happiness in Jonathan’s arms. The boy I grew attached to is not the fragile, kind-eyed kid but a soulless entity. I saw his gaze and can still see Jon’s icy eyes when he pulled the trigger. There was no remorse, no guilt, but I still looked at him, feeling the blood leaving my body. I saw in him Jonathan’s eyes, the same cold eyes of the dead soul that watched me from the edge of the table when he first collided with me. But at that moment, they were no longer cold; they were warm and bright, his tears filled with fear. The looks had reversed, and even while agonizing from the gunshot wound, I could see the true face of each one. Jonathan had retreated inside himself, locked away too deep for me to reach him. He left me to move on without him. In the end, Jon succeeded in his aim. Roy no longer wants to feel, doesn’t want to be by my side; he sends me away with his absence. And maybe that’s why I tried to do the same when I boarded the plane twenty days later with Tom caring for me. The promises he made, the apologies my mind disconnected from, the second chance I knew would be a mistake, but I moved forward. I tried anything to keep Roy out of my thoughts.
But here I am, feeling so alone inside this wedding dress, bitterly staring at the peach color, which I don’t even like. I locked myself inside this farce just as Jonathan locked himself inside that island; the difference is that I don’t want to be imprisoned anymore. I don’t want to be here for another second. I will take my fears and traumas, holding them by the hand, and face an unknown future. I lift my eyes to my father, taking a deep breath. The door opens, and my mother walks in, smiling at me, euphoric. Like a bandage that can be pulled off only once for pain to be sharp and quick, I let the words come out of my mouth, hitting their mark.
“Mom, I’m not getting married.” I place the bouquet back on the marble table, removing the veil from my head and letting it fall beside the flowers.
I look at my father, who remains calm and holds my mother in a comforting embrace.
“What do you mean? Are you nervous? That’s normal, Gim. Every bride gets nervous; I was on my wedding day.” She looks to my father for help, but he just smiles, shaking his head and shrugging. “And the guests, the party, the priest waiting for you? Tom? What are you going to say?”
“The same thing she said to you, my love: that she’s not getting married.” My father kisses her forehead, tenderly smoothing her face. “Aside from the catering, we can get a refund for the rest.”
“Refund? God! It’s her wedding! Gim, look at me, darling!” My mother steps away from him, walking toward me and holding my fingers in her hands. “You’re still traumatized; it’s normal that this leaves you confused.”
“Mom, I’ve never been more lucid in my life.”
“No, you’re not. If you were, you wouldn’t be thinking about abandoning your fiancé at the altar. That’s your father’s thing, just like supporting that trip. It almost cost us you... You could have died because of that assault on the mansion...”
I close my eyes, breathing deeply, hating lies. But for the first time, I understand that sometimes the truth cannot be told. It was Jonathan who called my parents to relay my condition at the hospital. My mother immediately contacted Tom, leading him to board a plane for Australia after convincing my parents not to come, reassuring them that he would keep them informed about what had happened. It was Baby who spoke with Tom, giving a softened version, where she mentioned an intruder who broke into the mansion, killing Lorane and shooting me when I went to save Jon.
I take another deep breath, opening my eyes and staring at my mother.

“ Mom, listen to what I’m telling you. But please, listen well, because it’s from the bottom of my heart.” I lift her fingers, bringing them close to my face, and look her in the eyes. “I don’t love Tom. I’m not getting married.” I kiss her fingers, letting her understand my words. “And I hate the color peach with all my might.”
I release her fingers only to hug her, kissing her face, holding her still in my arms. I turn my gaze to my father, who smiles, supporting me with his calm demeanor. I step away from my mother, kissing her forehead with affection.
“I love you, Mrs. Mole Fox. I love you more than anything, but I can’t marry knowing I’ll be unhappy, even if it hurts you.” I think she’s still in shock, as her eyes don’t even blink, staring at me. I rub the tip of my nose against hers, like when I was a child.
I pull away from her and go to my father, hugging him, letting myself be filled with his presence and support. This is what I love most about him. There’s no need for words, just feeling each other’s love.
“Well, I was going to give my gift during the couple’s toast, but I guess I can give it now.” I pull away from him, shaking my head.
“Dad, there won’t be a wedding anymore. Try to get the money back…”
“Or you could exchange it?” My eyes fall on his hand, seeing the plane tickets to Hawaii. “You could also go alone, it’s your choice now.”
“Dad…” I smile at him as he hands me the tickets.
“They’re for tonight at nine.” He waves them in my fingers, warming me with his kiss on my cheek. “If you go now, I believe you can change it for another flight.”
“I love you, Dad.” I hug him tighter, kissing his face.
“I love you too, my dear.” He gives me a light pat on the back, gently pushing me away from him. “Now go, before she snaps out of her shock and drags you to the altar.”
I laugh at his low voice whispering, glancing at my mother. I’m already crossing the reception hall, searching for Tom in every corner he might be. I’m not surprised when I finally find him in the coat room, caught between kisses with a waitress.
“Gim!” He pushes her away, trying to wipe the lipstick off his mouth, breathing nervously.
I shift my gaze to the flustered girl, who is red-faced, trying to adjust her shirt.
“Could you give us a moment?” I step away from the door, letting her run out while she looks at the floor.
“Gim, I… Damn it! Look, I can explain… They mean nothing to me…”
“I had two dicks in one night!” My voice cuts him off quickly, leaving him flustered with his hand raised in the air. “I was used without an ounce of respect, with rough hits, until I felt as light as a feather, and I was fucking satisfied when I reached climax. I fucked so much that there’s probably still semen on my body today.”
“What? What are you talking about?” Tom looks around, getting anxious.
“I’m talking about sex, Tom! About satisfaction, about not holding back or feeling inappropriate, about getting a load of cum in an operating room, with more than eight men inside it.” My chest puffs up as I look deep into his eyes, letting him see the truth. “I’m talking about fucking in every indecent way, but with one man only, who mistreated me… but fucked me damn well.”
His red face is on fire, his fist clenched by his side.