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Falling Grace

Elijah Deus

    “I’m pregnant,” said Grace.
    Matt removed his lips from her neck. “What did you say?”
    “I’m pregnant.”
    Matt withdrew his hands from her hips and took a few steps back. Grace got off the wall she was pressed against. She lifted up her shirt that was slightly down. She looked at the lit candles that was around the room, one candle on each side of the bed, and several on a round mid-size table in the middle of the room. The candles were held inside glass container and it made the room smell of lavender. There were rose petals everywhere and it covered a stain that was on the carpet floor.
    Grace walked closer to Matt. “I didn’t know how you were going to react. I was hoping for a positive reaction.”
    Matt sat at the edge of the bed. Rose petals flew in the air and dropped to the floor. Matt rested his hands on his knees and shook his legs.
    “Matt!”
    He turned his head. “What do you want me to say?”
    Grace sat next to him. “I want you to say that you’re happy for us. That we can finally start a family together. But I guess that was too much to ask for.” Grace’s eyes watered.
    “I can’t do that right now.”
    “Why not?”
    Matt leaped up. He walked over to a wall, placed one hand on it, and put his head down. “Because I have a wife and kids. I have a reputation to keep.” He looked up at Grace. “Do you think I wanted this?”
    “You’re the one that asked for it in your office, in your car, and in this crappy motel.” Grace paused. “Behind the church-.”
    “That’s enough.” He smashed his hand against the wall, leaving a small dent in it and a remnant of paint on his hand.
    Grace flinched.
    “Listen, we can figure this out,” said Matt, lowering his shoulders.
    Matt walked over to Grace, tears rolling down her face. He reached for her hand but she rejected it.
    Grace wiped her tears and rose to her feet. “You said you would leave your wife for me. You said that you’ll take care of me. I graduate high school in a few weeks.”
    “It’s not the right time.”
    “When is the right time? When I tell people about the baby? When the baby is born?
    Matt grabbed her. “No one can know about this you hear me.”
    Grace tried to move her arms, but it wouldn’t budge.
    “Let go of me. You’re hurting me.”
    Matt let go of her arms and walked away. Grace touched her arm. Her caramel skin turned red as she felt the burn beneath her skin.
    “So the rumors are true?”said Grace.
    Matt squinted his eyes. He made his hands into a fist. “We can discuss this matter peacefully. We don’t want to do anything someone might regret.”
    “You’re a fake and a liar.”
    “What did you just say?” Matt grinded his teeth.
    “You preach about being holy and staying faithful, but you’re none of those things.”
    “Shut up.” Matt stepped forward.
    “I saw a bruise on your wife one day. Now I know where it came from.”
    “Shut up.” Matt slapped her in the face.
    Grace stood there. Her face turned red and so did her behind lip. She placed her hand on her face.
    Matt pointed a finger at her. “Now you listen to me, no one can find out—”
    Grace spat at his face. Matt wiped it off. There was a moment of silence before Matt reached for her, but she fought him off. Grace ran toward the door. Matt got in front of her and blocked her way.
    She pounded on his chest. “Let me go.”
    “We can fix this.”
    Matt held her arms. He moved her away from the door.
    “Help someone help.”
    Matt tossed her. Grace’s whole body turned and hit head first on the round table. She collided with a candle and it shattered. She slid off the table onto the ground along with the rest of the candles. A small flame emerged next to her. She laid there. Matt reached out his hand but brought it back. The flames grew around her and the rose petals burned one by one.

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