When you awoke the next morning, the first thing you noticed was the dried blood beneath your fingernails. Last night’s event came rushing back at you and as you were reminded of the physical contact that you shared with him, you shivered, goosebumps raising along your hands. But at the same time, you felt that little pang of guilt.

I don’t have time for this.

Frustrated at yourself for even bothering to spare him a thought, you tossed your blanket aside and headed for the bathroom, hoping the cold water would drive away your sleepiness and guilt.

When you stepped out of your room in your office wear, you glanced at his room and you were glad to find that the door was closed.

Good. That means I don’t have to see him.

But when you reached the top of the stairs, you halted in your steps.

Down at the dining table, Johnny had just placed down his breakfast when he must have noticed you. He looked up at you and from that angle, you had a clear view of his chest. 5 scratch marks started from his left shoulder till the end of his ribcage, scabs forming over the wounds. The areas around the scratch marks were red and inflamed; you could tell that they were swollen. Immediately, the guilt within you increased by 10 times but Johnny simply sat down at his seat, shoving scrambled eggs into his mouth.

You descended the stairs and headed straight for the door but as you opened the door, you could hear his voice travel through your house.

“You’re not going to have breakfast? I can make you some.”

On any other normal day you would have make some snarky remark like “And have you poison me? No thank you.” But your guilt also seemed to have a hold on your tongue and you ended up with a weak comeback.

“I’m not hungry today” was all you said before closing the door after you.

For the rest of the day, even as you worked, you found yourself thinking of Johnny against your will. It irked you that you even bothered to care for someone like him.

-

You were seated on your couch that night, waiting for Johnny to come home. You weren’t waiting to give him a good night kiss before sleeping but rather to apologise for physically harming him. If you didn’t do it, your guilt would be gnawing away at you all the time after having to suffer with it for one day, you didn’t want to suffer with it for another day.

But when he finally came home, all thoughts of apologising to him were banished from your mind.

Your ears perked up at the sound of your door unlocking and turning your eyes to the hallway, your eyes could make out a stumbling figure