At The Edge of the World

Leigh Anne felt utterly alone as she approached the edge of the world, the Ferris wheel, the beacon to tourists and residents alike.

She saw Theo’s balcony in the distance and imagined Gretel sitting on her cat condominium in the living room. His blinds were open so Gretel could look out and smell the salt in the air. She loved it.

She saw Ethan sitting, resting his back against the metal barricade fencing that encircled the ride, with his left leg propped up. Wearing a light blue pullover, beige linen pants, and brown Oxford shoes, his face lit up when he saw her.

“Follow me,” he spoke, eager to get her out of public view.

“No, that wasn’t part of the agreement, Ethan.” She was reluctant to leave the safety of the people who came and went around them. She was about to lose her witnesses.

“It’s too crowded here, Leigh Anne. Please trust me for a few seconds.”

“If I trust you, I could disappear and never be heard from again.”

He knew she had a valid point, but it wouldn’t be him who would have set it up.

“True, and it wouldn’t be my doing, but that big guy following you since you left the bar may have different intentions.” He warned her not to turn around as he extended his hand and encouraged her to let him lead her away from spying eyes. “Come on, I don’t have the wire on yet.”

They found themselves in the trenches under the pier. They could still hear the sounds of the carnival goers, the rides' roar, and the food carts' smell. The tide wasn’t for a few hours, so they had time to put on a good show.

“So, have you moved your things out of his place?” Ethan held her hand. She could feel the clamminess get worse. He was nervous.

“Told him goodbye yet?”

“You know he’s not letting me go without a fight.” She tried to break away from him, but even with sweaty palms, he had a good grip. “What about Gretel? I can’t leave her behind.”

“Your responsibilities are with me, your family, and our son.” He nearly growled as he raised his hand like he was about to hit her.

“He’s not my son! You’re not my family!” And before he could connect his hand to her face, her knee went up and met his groin, a swift kick to his family jewels.

Ethan collapsed in the sand underneath his feet. Leigh Anne stood over his body, now in a fetal position, writhing. She kicked him, like for real. She wouldn’t be surprised if she broke it.

“And tell me, how am I supposed to marry you when you’re still married?”

As Ethan started to rise and speak again, Leigh Anne felt two well-built arms wrap around her and pull her away protectively. “You did well, kid. Now let me manage the trash.”

Theo came. Even though she begged him not to, he came. Theo pushed Ethan back into the wet sand with his bare, tattooed foot. Ethan was stupid enough to square up to him when he let him back up. They were both fine specimens, athletes, and fighters, and they both wanted the same woman, but Theo knew he wanted her for the right reasons. That was what he thought as he swung his right fist, making a powerful and painful connection to the left side of Ethan’s jaw. Ethan’s head went flying back, and Theo pulled him forward and kicked him in his ribs hard enough to fracture two on the left side.

Ethan collapsed. Theo had bested him because Ethan was caught off guard, but that didn’t stop Ethan from sweeping Theo’s legs out from under him. He first contacted Theo’s rippling abs, but Theo got up. With the adrenaline thrill, he formed a fist and shattered Ethan’s nose.

“Stop, stop...” A shrill vibration could be heard over the crashing waves from under the pier. “Theo, stop, please.”

“Leigh Anne...” Theo moaned as he fell to his knees. She was there to catch him; his arms encased her waist as his head touched her torso.

“I never stopped loving you, Leigh Anne. I don’t think I ever will.” Ethan showed signs of his mask cracking. “Do you think you could ever learn to love me again?” Ethan had more than the wind knocked out of him. Blood gushed from his nose.

Onlookers peered over the railing above. Someone must’ve called 9-1-1. They heard sirens approaching.

“I can’t love you, Ethan. Not the same way you love me.”

“You and your twisted family, which includes her award-winning parents, are going to leave us alone. Leave with your tails between your legs, and never contact us again. Or we take what we know to the law enforcement in Connecticut.” Theo was determined to protect her and his future at all costs.

Ethan’s body trembled, his face sad. He couldn’t understand how things had gone so wrong. She was right to reject him. He knew the choices he made destroyed her, destroyed him, but he had to know he needed one last confirmation. That was the nail in the coffin moment.

“Why? Is there a reason you can’t give us a second chance?”

Leigh Anne helped Theo stand, motioning to him. She was all right. She wasn’t afraid of him anymore. She went there to stop him and his family from hurting her, from taking her away from the only family she knew and would ever know. She raised her hand, gently placing her open palm on the scruff of his face. She remembered how he’d shave daily to avoid the scruffy five o’clock shadow, but she never told him she loved it. She loved the way it tickled her cheek, her earlobe, the side of her nose, or the tip of her chin when he’d brush his lips against any part of her face. She knew the exact reason. Too much had ruined them for them ever to be there again. Plus...

“My heart isn’t yours anymore. It belongs to someone else.” She turned her cheek to see the man who watched as she left her past behind and welcomed her future. He smiled at her, and she gently pulled her hand away from Ethan’s bloody mess.

As they walked away, the EMT approached Ethan and got to work, stopping the blood flow. They walked hand in hand back up to the pier. Theo tugged on her hand to prevent her from going any further. She looked back at her giant of a man. His blond locks tickled his brow, but there was a glint of grief in his eyes. The moment she stood in front of him, he broke down. She had never seen him cry before. It was as if he had been holding the tears back for the past two days, and now the dam had broken. He lowered his head and whispered something, and she stole the one thing she had wanted to possess since she’d known him: his heart.

The end