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KHYLA
I’m walking through the street of Hawthorne with my head lost in dark thoughts. Now that Matthew chose his companion, I must think about my future. It’s impossible to go back to Los Angeles and to my old life, to start again with my fake identity in a small village of the county it’s dangerous too. Perhaps I could be left in peace for a day, a week, a month or maybe a year, but I’ll always live with the anguish to be recognized as the girl that helped Matthew Ross to escape. I still think the best solution is to go to Mexico. I know a little bit of Spanish language, I could work in a tourist village as waitress. The road to the border is far farther than before, when we were in Los Angeles, but now that Matthew is out of my life, there’s not much else to do. I can also reach my new goal spending a few weeks.
While I’m thinking about my next step to go toward south, I wince when one hand firmly grips mine. Without having even the time to reason and scream, someone drags me in a blind alley covering my eyes with one hand and my mouth with the other, making my breathing difficult. The grip is so strong that I can’t even move. My God! Did I run into a maniac? Or is it Fred that managed to find me here too? I’m scared and I just wish Matthew was here, ready to fight for me.
I’m thinking how to bite the hand of the captor, when a voice comes to my ear.
«Where were you going without even greetings?»
In a moment I’m free and turn right away. So I find out that it’s Matthew.
«You scared me! I thought it was the police...»
«Sorry, but I couldn’t talk with you in front of everybody. It hadn’t been cautious. Let’s go back to us. Where were you going?»
«What are you asking for? I was going far away. Although I didn’t show it to you yet, I have my dignity. I noticed the way you were looking at Tracy, you embraced her with so much love and devotion. Besides, you were waiting for it for some years... And I really have nothing to do with you and can’t expect anything. I had been just a fool to let me go in this adventure, even though you’ve been clear since the beginning. You asked for my help without promising love, because you already gave it to another woman.»
He tries to argue, but I stop him: «I know that you took the right decision. Tracy is going to make you a happy man much more than I could. Nevertheless you can’t expect me to bear without suffering. I prefer to go away right now and try to forget you as soon as possible.»
He shakes his head, looking at me with tenderness.
«You just said a lot of bullshit one after another. Did you hear yourself? Of course I embraced Tracy with sweetness. We loved each other and we still are united by a special feeling. We grew up together and anyway she’s the mother of my son. Yet it isn’t true that you can’t make me happy. You did it since the first time I saw you. When I said that I only belonged to Tracy, I lied to you, but first of all, to myself. I was tied to the idea that I would be hers for the rest of my life. I think it’s also because of life in jail. It makes you hate the present and nullifies the idea of the future. In this condition you just live projected in the past. But the time spent with her made me understand a lot of things. Tracy will always be the most important person of my life, but I want to go on... with you... I’ve already told you the other day and I repeat it today. Khyla, I love you.»
I look at him with eyes full of wander and my heart is overflowing joy. In spite of everything and everybody, Matthew is in front of me declaring his love. But there’s still something that doesn’t convince me. Maybe I’m just dreaming or he’s going mad. Perhaps he bumped his head and is no more able to discern the true from the false.
«Are you sure? I don’t think I could endure another disappointment.»
«Believe me, I’ve never been so sincere. And as we are confessing, I want to tell all the truth. At first my plan was to use you as a false hostage just to get out from Los Angeles. I was looking for the right place where to leave you, then Bart should have called the police that would have recovered you without any consequence. But then something went wrong. Every minute I spent with you, remained impressed under my skin. You became my drug. So, when we were in the motel, I called Bart and asked him to get you a new identity. He answered that he already did it. I don’t know how, but in the few days we observed you, when we were in jail, he understood right away that I wouldn’t had been able to let you go after hugging you.»
«I’d like to believe you, yet I’m so doubtfulness. How could I have eradicated Tracy out of your heart? I’m not so special...»
«Why are you so negative about yourself? Why don’t you understand how wonderful you are? You are the emblem of courage and determination, but you are also tender and passionate. When I say that I love you, I’m tremendously sincere. I like your enchanted look, your body looking for mine. I love the self-confident way you express your opinions, even the most uncomfortable. I like you even when you’re angry and wrinkles run on your forehead and your eyes are offended. And I can’t do without your madness. Only a crazy one like you would have thrown herself in an adventure like this, even imagining that I was really a criminal. This is why, when I say that I love you, you must believe me...»
Matthew kneels, take my hand and whispers: «Khyla, do you want to be my perfect accomplice... for life?»
Hearing these words I get antsy. There’s no more reason to deny my feelings for him. So I do the best thing I can do since I know Matthew. I help him to get up and hug him passionately, giving him a breathless kiss that he returns with love, that mix of passion and feeling that can transform a grey life in a full colored rainbow.
