Chapter Fifty-Two: The Right to Detest

Adrian M Knox

"I am not lying to you, Ruby; I mean it. I mean the words, contrary to myself, I do care about you."

"You are not lying?”

She asked with a sigh before repeating the words again.

“You are not lying.”

It did not feel like a question, so he said nothing.

“You think those words make it better? Are they some sort of band-aid because, your timing aside, you would wear gloves to touch someone you care about? Does that make sense to you, or are you so enamoured that I am your exception? Oh God, if this is your ‘care’, I cannot imagine if you hated me. What next? Would you not permit yourself to breathe the same air as me? perhaps have me live in a separate manor or an apartment in town?"

"I'll admit my methods-"

"No, you will admit nothing. You will say nothing; you will keep whatever is going on buried deep inside like the rest of us and... I will pretend you didn't say anything at all."

"You will pretend…Ruby, listen to me. This isn’t spontaneous or a mistake; I truly mean it.