3.

What I missed most about Alexios were the deep conversations we had and how everything flowed so easily. He made me feel like I was home and safe. He argued with me about who he thought was the best director. According to him, Martin Scorsese. Every time I watch one of his movies, I can’t help but think of him and his strong points.

The day I found out about his little secret was the day that changed my life forever. He had come to my house all elated. I thought he was high. I hadn’t known him that long so my mind kept on creating these crazy scenarios. His awkward behavior made me skeptical.

“Are you alright?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” he replied, but his body was telling me otherwise. His foot was nervously moving back and forth and he kept on moving around.

“I know something is up. What is it?”

“How do you know?”

“Tell me what’s bothering you.”

“There’s nothing to tell,” he replied with a slight edge.

“I could tell there’s something you’re keeping from me.”

“How do you know?” he said, “What do you sense?” I thought it weird that he would use the word sense, like I was a dog or physic or something. So I went with it.

“I sense that you are not telling me something.”

“What do you want to know?” he asked defensively.

“Where were you before you came over?” I don’t know why that question popped into my mind. For some strange reason I thought that maybe he was with another girl. He paused, as if he was thinking or making up a lie, a little bit too long for my liking.

“I had stuff to do,” he said indifferently and he avoided my eyes.

“Tell me the truth.”

He sat down. “I can’t,” Alexios said and placed both his hands on his head.

“Are you seeing someone else?” I blurted.

“No, absolutely not.” He looked around the room, “It’s not that, at all.”

“Then, what?” I said, frustrated.

“I can’t tell you.” He said in a calm voice.

“If you can’t tell me then leave!” I said a little too loudly and gestured for him to leave by pointing to the front door. “If there is going to be secrets between us, I can’t be with you.”

He walked and stood in front of me with a determination. “Elysia, it’s okay.  I don’t have anyone else. It’s only you I have eyes for. It’s just that I’m not ready to tell you…”

“If you don’t tell me what it is you must leave, Alexios,” I stated angrily.

“If I tell you, you won’t want to be with me and I’ll lose you. I can’t bear that,” he got up and paced nervously.

“I said, leave!” I shouted.

He continued to pace and he stopped talking, then he started swearing at himself.

“I’m leaving then!” he shouted back.

“Then, go and don’t ever come back!” I was shaking. I couldn’t understand any of it. He walked toward the door opened it and shut it again. He turned around and with a desperate look in his eyes came back to sit down.

“Okay, I’ll tell you.” He sat down on my couch.

“What?”

“Sit down first.” I sat down next to him and he looked at me in a curious way.

“Here goes.” He took a deep breath.

“Alexios, you can tell me anything.” I waited for the worst…maybe he was going to tell me he had a wife, kids…my mind wandered. What I didn’t expect were the words that came out of his mouth.

“I’m a vampire.”