Brothers

"Wait," you call after her. She doesn't stop. "Vicky, please!"

At this, she does stop. Maybe there was something in your tone that told her how genuinely sorry you feel. Maybe she just wants to hear what you have to say, Whatever the reason, she has stopped and turned. She stands at the end of the hall waiting for you as you walk towards her.

"Vicky," you begin when you are close enough. She slaps you again, you turn your head with the blow.

"You can keep smacking me if you like," you tell her. She complies, smacking you across the face once more. "No amount of pain that you can inflict will be enough of a punishment for what I did. I deserve far worse."

"I fucking hate you,' she says.

"You have every right to. I feel the same way about myself, actually."

She stares back at you and there is a moment of silence between the two of you. She waits for you to continue.

"I-I panicked," you say, trying to explain. "I was afraid and I ran off when I should have tried to do something to protect you. I ran... And I wish I hadn't. God, I'm such a fucking coward."

You take a deep breath to steady yourself before going on. "What I did that night, is the most terrible and inexcusable thing I have ever done. No amount of apology can repair the damage that's been done, but I want you to know that I am sorry, and that I regret my actions."

"I hate you!" she says, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"I know," you say. "Me too."

"I trusted you!"

"I'm so, so sorry."

She stands there for a bit, staring into your eyes. Then she bites her bottom lip, shakes her head, and turns around to walk away for the last time.

You watch her leave in silence.

You have 1 choice: