Chapter Five - Regret

Max lay in her hammock, staring at the ceiling above. A hollow pang resounded throughout her heard. When she did what she did, she hadn't realized it would hurt this much. But it did. It hurt like hell. A thousand arrows shooting through her heart, piercing her very soul as the tears flooded from her eyes.

Her silent sobs did nothing to ease her suffering. She wondered if Rose felt the way she did. Rose. The girl she couldn't stop thinking about. The girl she wanted to run to, take into her arms, and never let her go. Never let her hurt the way she knew she had hurt her.

She had hurt her. The realization dawned on her abruptly. She had never meant to cause her heartache. Then why did she take the job.

No. That wasn't fair. She hadn't met her then. If she had known earlier what she knew now, she would have killed the man who gave her the job on the spot. She would protect her, like she swore to protect Melissa. Mel. She had to take care of her sister.

They were kin. Blood sisters. Nothing could separate their bond. She couldn't let anyone pull her astray. She was the provider. Her sister depended on her.

She had to kill Rose.

It was the only solution. The only way out. The only possible choice to make. She had been put in an impossible position, and there was only one decision she could make now.

To kill the woman she loved.

Max wiped her eyes, hopping down from her hammock. She tiptoed down the hall, exiting the servants-quarters and heading towards the garden.

And what she saw took her breath away.

Rose was sitting under a large sycamore tree, the moonlight filtering through the branches and falling across her frame in beautiful, glowing patterns. The light caught on her tears, making it seem as if crystals were dripping from her big, round eyes.

Max's breath shook, her expression faltering. She attempted covering her bleary eyes and tear-stained face - unsuccessfully at that - as Rose looked up from where she sat. She hadn't expected to see Max so miserable this late at night.

From what she had experienced earlier, she truly believed Max had felt nothing for her at all. But now, there she was, in the garden where they had first gotten to know one another. And she looked as heartbroken as she felt.

Rose hefted herself up as Max took a small step forward.

"Hey." She whispered.

"Hey."

They watched one another in silence for a moment before Max spoke up.

"I'm sorry... I- I don't know what -"

She was silenced when Rose tackled her, wrapping her arms around her in a tight hug. Max grunted, barely budging as she gently pulled Rose in tighter.

"It's okay.." Rose whispered in between sobs.

The sound of her voice made Max's heart break. She was horrified. What had she done to this angel.

She shook her head, kneeling down to look Rose in the eyes.

"I will never hurt you again." She swore. Never.