The dim light from the streetlamp outside flickered through the blinds, casting long shadows across Leon's cramped living room. He hadn't bothered to clean up in days—empty takeout containers and discarded clothes littered the floor, the air heavy with the stale scent of sweat and frustration. The clock on the wall ticked in the silence, but Leon barely noticed. His thoughts were far away, focused on one person.
Sarah.
She had always been there, lurking in the background, whispering into Alina's ear, poisoning her mind against him. It had been subtle at first—little comments, small digs, suggestions that Alina should stand up for herself more, that she deserved better. But now, it was clear. Sarah was the reason Alina hadn't come back. She was the one keeping them apart, building a wall between them that Leon couldn't break through.
He sat on the edge of the couch, hunched over, his head resting in his hands. His mind was a whirlpool of anger, fear, and desperation, all swirling around the same question: how could he get Alina back? Every time he thought he was close, every time he believed that Alina might finally see reason, Sarah pulled her away again. Alina wouldn't answer his calls, wouldn't meet him, and it was because of her.
Leon's phone lay on the table in front of him, the screen dark. He had lost count of how many times he had tried calling Alina, leaving voicemails that she never returned. His last message had been calm—almost pleading—but that hadn't worked either. She was still hiding behind Sarah's shield, unreachable.
The rain outside had stopped, but the air in the apartment felt thick and oppressive, pressing down on him with every breath he took. He stood up abruptly, unable to sit still any longer. Pacing across the small room, he ran his hand through his hair, tugging at the ends in frustration.
Sarah is the problem.
The thought echoed in his mind, louder with each passing second. She was the obstacle standing between him and Alina. She had always been there, judging him, convincing Alina that he was too controlling, too possessive. Sarah didn't know anything about their relationship—she didn't know how much Leon loved Alina, how much he had sacrificed for her. And yet, she had managed to worm her way into Alina's head, turning her against him.
Leon stopped pacing, his heart pounding in his chest. He needed to do something. He couldn't just wait around for Sarah to push Alina further away. He had already lost too much time. He had to act.
He sat back down on the couch, leaning forward, his elbows resting on his knees as he stared at the floor. His mind raced, piecing together fragments of an idea, a plan that had been forming at the edges of his thoughts for days now.
If Sarah was the problem, then Sarah had to be removed.
The thought sent a chill down his spine, but it also brought with it a strange sense of clarity. If Sarah wasn't there to interfere, if she wasn't constantly filling Alina's head with doubts, then maybe—just maybe—Alina would come back to him. Maybe she would finally realize that she needed him, that they were meant to be together. He had to believe that. He couldn't give up on her. Not yet.
Leon stood up again, pacing the length of the room as his mind spun with possibilities. He wasn't a violent person. Not usually. The night he had hit Alina—that had been a mistake, an accident brought on by the overwhelming betrayal he had felt when he found out about the other men. He hadn't meant to hurt her. He had just... snapped.
But Sarah was different. She wasn't part of him the way Alina was. She was the one standing in the way, and he couldn't let that continue. He wouldn't let her destroy what was left of his relationship with Alina.
The clock on the wall ticked loudly in the silence, the sound grating on his nerves. His mind raced through the possibilities—how could he get Sarah out of the way without raising suspicion? How could he make sure that Alina didn't blame him for whatever happened next?
Leon sat down at the cluttered table, pulling his phone toward him. He scrolled through his contacts, pausing when he reached Sarah's name. He had never liked her. She had always been too critical, too protective of Alina. She saw him as a threat, even back when things between him and Alina had been good.
He could try to talk to her. Maybe he could convince her to back off, to let Alina make her own decisions. But deep down, Leon knew that wouldn't work. Sarah was too stubborn, too convinced that she knew what was best for Alina. She would never listen to him.
No, talking wouldn't be enough. He needed to get her out of the picture. Permanently.
Leon's fingers tightened around his phone as he stared down at Sarah's number. He could send her a message, something to lure her out, to make her come to him. He didn't need to hurt her—at least, not in the way he had hurt Alina. But he needed to make her disappear, to make sure she couldn't interfere anymore.
He thought about the park nearby, the one where he had asked Alina to meet him. It was secluded, especially at night. There were places there—quiet, hidden places—where no one would see them. He could convince Sarah to meet him there, under the guise of wanting to talk things out, to reach an understanding. And then, once she was there...
His mind raced through the details, piecing together a plan that felt both sickening and necessary. He didn't want to hurt Sarah. He didn't even hate her. But she was in the way, and that was something he couldn't ignore any longer.
Leon typed out a message, his heart pounding in his chest.
"Sarah, we need to talk. I know you don't like me, but I'm not the person you think I am. Let's meet somewhere neutral, just the two of us, so we can clear the air. The park near 5th. Tonight at 10."
He stared at the message for a long moment, his finger hovering over the send button. The weight of what he was about to do pressed down on him, but he couldn't turn back now. He needed Alina, and this was the only way to make sure she came back to him.
With a deep breath, Leon pressed send.
The phone beeped softly, and the message disappeared into the void. Now, all he could do was wait.
The hours dragged by, each one heavier than the last. Leon paced the apartment, his mind racing with thoughts of what would happen next. He imagined Sarah showing up at the park, her usual smug expression replaced by confusion, maybe even fear. He pictured the conversation they would have—how he would explain that Alina was his, that Sarah needed to back off. He would make her understand. One way or another.
By the time 10 o'clock rolled around, the sky had turned a deep, bruised purple, the last remnants of daylight fading into the horizon. The rain had stopped completely now, leaving the streets slick and shining under the streetlights. The city felt quieter
than usual, an almost eerie calm settling over it as Leon stepped out of his apartment. His breath fogged in the cool night air, but he barely felt the chill. His thoughts were consumed by what was about to happen.
The streets were mostly empty as he made his way toward the park, the occasional car passing by, headlights reflecting off the wet pavement. Leon kept his head down, the hood of his jacket pulled up, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. Every step felt heavier than the last, his stomach twisting into knots. This was it. This was the moment that would change everything.
He reached the park just before 10, the familiar crunch of wet gravel underfoot as he crossed the small footbridge that led to the more secluded part of the park. The trees here were thick, their branches casting long shadows under the dim glow of the streetlamps. The place felt deserted, the usual joggers and dog walkers nowhere to be seen at this hour.
Leon's heart pounded in his chest as he found a spot near the old stone bench, tucked away from the main path. He stood there, hands in his pockets, waiting. The soft rustling of leaves in the breeze was the only sound, the occasional flicker of light from passing cars in the distance the only reminder that he wasn't completely alone.
Time stretched on, each minute that passed making the knot of anxiety in his chest tighten. What if she didn't come? What if she had seen through his message, knew what he was planning? Or worse, what if she had told Alina?
Just as the doubt began to gnaw at him, Leon heard footsteps. Soft, hesitant. His breath caught in his throat as he turned toward the sound, and there she was—Sarah, her figure barely visible in the dim light as she approached.
Her face was unreadable as she walked closer, her eyes scanning the darkened surroundings before landing on Leon. She stopped a few feet away, her hands stuffed into her jacket pockets, the tension between them thick enough to cut with a knife.
"Leon," she said, her voice steady, but there was a sharpness to it, an edge that made his skin prickle. "Why are we here?"
Leon took a deep breath, his mind scrambling to find the right words. This had to go perfectly. He couldn't afford to make a mistake.
"I wanted to talk," he said, trying to keep his voice calm, reasonable. "About Alina. About everything that's happened. We need to figure this out, Sarah. You can't keep pushing her away from me."
Sarah's eyes narrowed, and she took a step closer, her posture stiff, defensive. "Pushing her away? Leon, you hurt her. You did that all by yourself. She's with me because she's scared of you."
Leon flinched at the accusation, his fists clenching inside his pockets. "She's scared because you've been filling her head with lies. You've always hated me, haven't you? From the very beginning. You've never wanted us to be together."
Sarah crossed her arms over her chest, her eyes flashing with anger. "This isn't about me, Leon. This is about you. You're dangerous, and Alina knows it. That's why she's staying with me. She's afraid of what you might do if she comes back." Sarah's words were sharp, like a slap to the face. The coldness in her tone, the certainty—Leon felt it like a slow-burning fire in his chest.
He took a step forward, his pulse quickening. "I'm not dangerous," Leon said, his voice a low growl, barely holding back the fury that was bubbling up inside him. "I just... I lost control, okay? It was a mistake. But I love her, Sarah. She's everything to me."
Sarah didn't move, didn't flinch. Her eyes bored into his, unwavering. "Love doesn't look like that, Leon. Love doesn't leave someone with bruises. You don't get to call that love."
Leon's hands tightened into fists in his pockets, the anger rising like a tide. He couldn't believe how blind she was, how convinced she was that he was the problem. She didn't understand, none of them did. He had been pushed to the edge, forced into a corner by Alina's lies, by Sarah's constant meddling. They had broken him, and now they were acting like he was the monster.
"I can fix this," he said, his voice hard, determined. "I can make it right. But you—" He paused, swallowing the lump in his throat. "You need to stay out of it. You're poisoning her against me. You're keeping her from seeing the truth."
Sarah let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. "The truth? The truth is she's terrified of you. She's been terrified for a long time, Leon. I didn't make that happen—you did."
Leon's breath came faster, his chest tightening. The park felt too small, too close, the darkness pressing in on him. He could feel the anger, the desperation clawing at him, urging him to act. But this wasn't supposed to go like this. He needed to stay calm, needed to control the situation.
"Just tell her to talk to me," Leon said, his voice quieter now, pleading. "Please. That's all I'm asking. Let me explain everything. I can't—" His voice cracked, the words choking him. "I can't lose her."
Sarah's face softened for a brief moment, but it was only pity he saw there, not understanding. "It's not up to me, Leon. Alina doesn't want to see you. She's trying to move on, and you need to let her."
Move on? The words hit him like a punch to the gut, and for a moment, he felt like he couldn't breathe. Move on? Alina didn't want to move on. She couldn't. Not from him. They were meant to be together, through everything. She was just confused, overwhelmed by everything that had happened. If Sarah would just back off, if she would just give them space, Alina would see that.
Leon took another step toward her, his voice tight with frustration. "You think you know her better than I do? You think she's better off with you than with me?"
Sarah's eyes didn't waver. "I know she's safer with me than she ever was with you."
And there it was. That final blow, that cold certainty that Sarah was the wall standing between him and Alina. She wouldn't let Alina come back, wouldn't stop until she had torn them apart for good.
Leon's heart pounded in his chest, his vision blurring with the rush of blood to his head. He had been so careful, had tried so hard to control his emotions, but now the anger surged up, hot and blinding, and before he could stop himself, he was closing the distance between them.
Sarah's eyes widened as he advanced, but she didn't back away. "Leon—"
He grabbed her by the arm, his grip tight, almost painful, but he didn't care. "You don't get to take her from me," he hissed, his voice low and dangerous. "You don't get to decide what's best for her. She's mine."
Sarah struggled against his grip, trying to pull away, but Leon held on, his fingers digging into her skin. "Let go of me!" she snapped, her voice filled with both fear and fury. "You're only proving my point, Leon. You're dangerous. You need help."
"I don't need help," he growled, pulling her closer, his face inches from hers. "I need you to get out of the way."
Sarah's free hand shot out, shoving him hard in the chest. The force of it caught Leon off guard, and he stumbled back, releasing her arm. For a moment, they both stood there, breathing hard, the tension between them like a taut wire ready to snap.
"I'm calling the police," Sarah said, her voice shaky but firm. She reached into her pocket for her phone.
Leon's heart skipped a beat. "Don't—" he started, but it was too late. Sarah's fingers were already gripping the phone, and she was turning away, ready to make the call.
He couldn't let that happen.
Without thinking, Leon lunged toward her, his hand closing around her wrist before she could dial. The phone fell to the ground with a soft thud, bouncing off the gravel path. Sarah's breath hitched in her throat as she tried to yank her arm free, but Leon's grip was too strong.
"Let go!" she shouted, panic creeping into her voice.
Leon's mind raced. He hadn't meant for this to happen. He hadn't meant to hurt her, but now everything was spiraling out of control, and he didn't know how to stop it.
"Sarah, just listen—" he started, but she cut him off with a sharp cry.
"Help!"
Her voice echoed through the quiet park, and Leon's heart sank. Someone would hear. Someone would come. And then it would all be over.
In a blind rush of panic, he shoved her hard. Sarah stumbled back, her arms flailing as she tried to regain her balance, but the uneven ground beneath her feet betrayed her. She went down, crashing onto the wet gravel with a sickening thud. The sound of her head hitting the ground echoed in Leon's ears, louder than anything else.
For a moment, the world seemed to stop.
Sarah lay motionless on the ground, her body twisted awkwardly, her eyes closed. The phone lay just out of reach, the screen cracked, a faint glow flickering across the shattered glass.
Leon's breath came in ragged gasps as he stood over her, his mind reeling. He hadn't meant for this to happen. He had just wanted to talk, to make her understand. But now... now everything had gone horribly wrong.
He knelt down beside her, his hands trembling as he reached out to touch her shoulder. "Sarah?" he whispered, his voice barely audible. "Sarah, wake up."
But she didn't move.
Leon's heart pounded in his chest, his mind racing. He needed to think. He needed to fix this. But how? What could he do now? If she didn't wake up, if someone found her like this...
Panic gripped him as he looked around the darkened park, his thoughts spiraling into chaos. He couldn't stay here. He couldn't be found like this. He had to get out.
Without another word, Leon stood up, his legs shaking beneath him as he backed away from Sarah's still form. His breath came in shallow, rapid bursts as he turned and fled, disappearing into the shadows of the park, leaving Sarah behind.