Seven Years of Rage

I followed the instructions on the wall—'Pour water for guests'—and entered the kitchen. I opened the cupboard and took out two mugs with trembling fingers.

The sticky note did not indicate where the kettle was. I searched the kitchen for a while before finding it under the sink.

Esther Logan's voice rang behind me. "Colin Smith, did you drop dead in the kitchen? How long does it take to pour us water?"

I carried the two cups of hot water out, my hands trembling even more. The water splashed onto the tray, making a sizzling sound.

Esther looked at me.

The man beside her, the award-winning actor named Flynn Raymont, stood up and took the tray.

"Colin, it's been seven years. How did you let yourself get to this state?"

He handed one cup of water to Esther, and the other cup was placed heavily on the table in front of me.

I looked at him. "Who are you?"

Flynn's smile froze before he tightened his grip on Esther's arm. "I'm Esther's fiancé, Flynn Raymont. We're getting married soon, so we came back to visit you."

"Oh... Congratulations." I lowered my head, twisting the hem of my clothes between my fingers.

Esther took a sip of water and slammed the cup on the table. "Congratulations? What the hell gives you the right to say congratulations? Colin, who are you trying to fool?"

She stood up and walked up to me, her shadow enveloping me. "Seven years ago, you ran off with that old woman for money, abandoning me. Now, I'm back and have become someone you'll never reach.

"And you're playing the amnesia card with me? You think this will make me pity you and go back to you?"

She reached out, grabbed my chin, and forced me to look at her. "Let me tell you, seeing your face makes me sick."

I looked at her, my eyes unable to focus as my chin throbbed. "Miss, you're hurting me."

"Hurting? You know what pain is? Why didn't you feel pain when you ripped my heart out and stomped on it?"