Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 73663 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 368(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73663 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 368(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
“Mads, I’m leaving you. Well, no, I left you. I’m gone.”
I make a strangled sound. “You’re what? You’re breaking up with me?”
“Let’s not use such strong language, okay? We’re separating. Going down different paths. I found something really exciting, and if I don’t pursue this opportunity, I’ll never have another chance.”
“Opportunity? In California? Breaking up? And you took my car?” I’m reeling and I have to sit down in Lisa Snell’s chair to keep myself from passing out and hitting my head on the corner of her desk. “Back up. What the hell is going on?”
He sounds like he’s explaining math to a child and I hate him for it. That’s worse than dumping me via phone, worse than ignoring my tit pic, worse than stealing my car.
I despise him when he gets condescending.
“I found a group of like-minded people that believe in seeking truth,” he says as if that’s completely reasonable. “All my life I’ve been stuck going through the same routine. Wake up, work, go to sleep. I swear, I’m never really living.”
“But you’ve been my boyfriend for years. I’m in that routine too, you know.”
“I know, Mads, and you’re great, but you’d never understand. You can’t take risks, right?”
I grimace, gripping the phone tightly. “I took one today. I sent you a freaking nude.” I hate how small my voice sounds.
“And you look amazing. Really, Mads, I’m going to miss you, but sending me a dirty picture isn’t really that big of a deal.”
“Maybe not to you!” I almost tell him about getting caught by Renzo, but the words die in my throat.
Mark isn’t my boyfriend anymore.
I don’t get to tell him about what happens in my life.
No—he doesn’t deserve to know.
“Sure, Mads, sure, I know it’s hard for you to go outside your normal little comfortable box, but that’s exactly why I have to leave. Don’t you get it? We’ve been in a rut for a while, you know that—”
“One I was trying to get us out of.” I can hear the pathetic desperation in my voice and wish I weren’t like this. Why am I so afraid right now? Why do I care if boring, nothing Mark is leaving me?
But I care, I really, really care, and it’s killing me inside.
“You know it won’t ever change. You won’t ever change. After what happened to you, I can’t really blame you for it. I think anyone would be pretty fucked up.”
“Don’t you talk about that,” I say softly, a sudden, overwhelming rage building in my chest.
“You’re stuck in the past, Mads. If only you could open yourself to Ssaranin’s divine hiss—” He stops suddenly as if he said too much.
“The divine what-the-fuck?”
Mark sounds annoyed. “I knew you wouldn’t understand. That’s why I wasn’t going to tell you. But whatever, here it is: I’m leaving you to join a group of people that believe in The Cold One, His Divine Planetary Excellence, The Snake Who Eats His Own Tail, Ssaranin The Unbroken, The Coiled Savior—”
“Are you worshipping a fucking snake god now?” I blurt out before he finishes rattling off more weird snake titles. “Is this some kind of joke?”
“My faith isn’t a joke,” Mark says, definitely pissed now. “This is why I’m leaving. You have a mind the size of a walnut and I can’t let you hold me back any longer. Ssaranin preaches sinking one’s fangs into life—”
I laugh, unable to help myself. “And your brain must be way too big if you actually believe in some kind of magical snake.”
“He’s not magical. Ssaranin is the leader of an intergalactic mystery cult centered on the planet—”
“Intergalactic? He’s a space alien god now? What the hell did you get yourself into, Mark?”
He practically hisses at me. Hisses! Like a snake! “I hope you find his divine love on day, I really do. You need it. But I’m full of his Holy Venom now, and I will not let you drag me down into the darkest pits any longer. I’m free.”
“Wait, seriously, Mark, I’m kind of worried. You’re moving to California to join a snake cult? I assume you haven’t told your parents.”
“We’re not—” But he stops himself and takes a couple breaths. “Yes, I am moving to California to join a group of like-minded individuals that believe in Ssaranin and his majesty. No, I didn’t tell my parents, and you better not either. I’m sorry for everything, Mads, and I really hope you won’t miss the stuff. You need less in your life, okay? You look great in that picture, by the way. It’ll be a warmth for me on my cold journey.”
“You better delete it, you hear me? Delete that picture, you weirdo snake pervert!”
“Goodbye, Mads.”
“Mark. Mark! You better delete it. Mark!!”
But the line goes dead.
I try calling again, texting, and nothing happens.
I sink back into the chair, trying to come to grips with what just happened.