Fireflies

by Menon, David

  ‘I had to accept that my big brother was gay even though I didn’t like it’.

  ‘Oh so you don’t mind people being gay as long as it’s not your own brother?’

  ‘Something like that’ she admitted. ‘But if that wasn’t enough he was in love with you. I had to put a stop to it. You weren’t suitable for him. You’re pathetic and I wasn’t going to let my brother be saddled with the likes of you. And yes, I had to be the lucky one whilst you remained the unlucky one. That’s how friendship works for me’.

  Simon felt a tightening in his chest and his breathing became heavy. ‘You’re evil’.

  ‘Oh get over it’ she snapped. ‘Some people were born lucky but you weren’t one of them’.

  ‘I was a different person when I was with Mitch. I loved him and I now know that he loved me. I could’ve known happiness in my life if it wasn’t for you’.

  ‘You didn’t deserve someone like Mitch. His partner Paul is ten times the man you are. He has his own business, a dealership selling BMW’s and they have a wonderful house on the banks of the river. It took me a long time to accept the way things are but now Mitch and Paul and Adrian and I have some wonderful times together and you see, you just wouldn’t have been able to fit into Mitch’s world and it would’ve been cruel of me to let you try. I was really doing you a favour. You’d have been so out of your depth’.

  Simon’s eyes widened as he leaned into Dawn forcing her to back up against the unit next to the sink. Their faces were almost touching and Dawn’s face became etched in fear once again. ‘I can’t believe how callous and smug you are. Well let me tell you, you are nothing. Do you understand me? You are nothing! You are nothing except a piece of lying, cheating, scheming, nasty, viscous, lowlife, self-serving scum!’

  Dawn picked up a knife from on top of the kitchen unit and held it up in front of Simon’s face.

  ‘Going to stab me?’ Simon goaded. ‘Going to kill me? Go on, you may as well. I’ve been dead all my life and you finished me off the day you destroyed my one and only ever chance to come alive with Mitch. Thanks to you I’ve got to think of Mitch being married to Paul and I can’t stand that. So go on, make my day and you’ll be saving me the job because I’ve got nothing and nobody to live for now. But I’ll know that the consequences of you doing it will mean that in a roundabout way you’ll pay for the rest of your life because of what you did to me and your brother’.

  ‘You’re crazy’.

  ‘No, I’m not. I just want you to pay for destroying my chance of happiness’.

  Simon reached for another knife and got the reaction he wanted. Fearing she needed to defend herself Dawn stabbed him. He felt the knife pierce his side and he immediately gasped for air. He reached down with his hand and felt that the blade had gone almost all the way in. He saw the shock in Dawn’s eyes and then she started shaking as she watched Simon stumble and try to keep himself upright. But then his legs gave way and he fell to the ground as the shock was replaced by the most agonizing pain. He could feel himself beginning to lose consciousness. Dawn didn’t know what to do. She’d stabbed the stupid little bastard. But he’d driven her to it. He’d goaded her and tormented her and driven her to it.

  ‘Thank you’ Simon whispered. He tried to smile but it was too late.

  The last thing that Simon heard before he left this world was the sound of Dawn screaming. It made him feel the most incredible sense of peace.