Match Point

Chapter 33: Kill Them with Kindness

I kill 'em with kindness

Ain't no doormats here

- "Kill Them with Kindness," by Idles

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Lettie

I buzzed and knocked, but no one answered. The silence made me even more anxious, so I punched in the keypad code Joan had given me, and the door clicked open. My heart was beating out of my chest. It was racing from a combination of literally running over here, a little bit from being at Simon's new apartment, which I wasn't anticipating having any emotions about, but mainly from the call with his mum.

Simon's mum, Joan, called me about forty-five minutes ago. She was worried, apologizing for reaching out to me of all people, but it didn't matter. Things between me and Simon were fine at the moment, not great, but I'd never shut him out, not after what we'd been through.

Joan was grateful, so grateful it made me feel guilty like I should've been keeping an eye on him all along. But I'd been trying to put some boundaries in place between us, some distance. I hadn't seen Simon since I first got back from Australia. I felt a little guilty about it, but after he basically said he would die if I didn't come to be with him in the hospital, I knew Simon was acting out because he was scared and alone, but It was inappropriate. He apologized to me profusely, and when Niamh and Kiara went to check on him for me, all he could do was apologize to them for my behavior, too. Niamh told me she almost punched him because he couldn't let it go.

Joan had said his friend Wills, who I knew very well, was not the most reliable of Simon's friends, but he would be there if you really needed him. I had thought about calling Wills before I ran over to Simon's to check on him, but I wasn't in the mood for him. If anything, I would call him once I find Simon and ask for his help.

"Sye?" I called out, stepping inside.

His apartment was even nicer than I expected—sleek, modern, and way fancier than my old flat we lived in together. As soon as his mom told me where he was living, I knew his new place would be really nice and ultra-modern. Simon's new flat was in a brand-new luxury building that everyone had been talking about. I was expecting a cold bachelor pad vibe, but he had created a cozy home, which made me happy.

Weirdly, it made me happy because I never would have pegged Simon to have a bachelor pad, and he didn't. It made me happy because I knew him, and anything that was super out of character would have made me worry even more than I already was.

"Simon! You better have clothes on," I called out, trying to keep it light even though my heart was hammering in my chest. His flat had two floors, and I was super impressed as I wandered through the unfamiliar space. But the eeriness of the silence, the absence of his voice—it gnawed at me.

No answer.

I made my way through the open living room. I'd never been here before, so I didn't even know where to start looking for him. Knowing his condition and that he is still short of breath easily, I decided to search the bottom floor first.

"Simon?" I tried again, but my voice was louder this time.

Then, I heard it. A soft sobbing sound, barely audible, but enough to stop me dead in my tracks. My stomach lurches as I follow the noise, moving down a hallway. One of the doors is ajar, and as I get closer, my chest tightens. "Sye?" I called out, my voice softer now. I gently pushed the door open to find him sitting in the shower, a towel draped over his shoulders and down his body. He looked wrecked.