Exit Wounds | The Script

six degrees of separation

*Dannys POV*

Her innocent questions scare me. She doesn't know what's happening. But to be honest, I don't really myself. It all seems like a fantasy, a nightmare. Something which isn't really happening. Something which I can wake up from and find out that everything is okay.

But it's real. This is no make believe.

I have to remember that it's real. It's real. I have to remember. If I don't, then I won't be able to bring myself to tell her. My strong Irish blood is fighting against my instincts of not telling her.

I need to do this. I need to.

I walk into the kitchen and put two slices of bread in the toaster. Turning on the kettle I decide to myself that I will tell her today. I have to. If I don't tell her, then my guilt will slowly destroy me.

"Will, teas ready!" I shout trying to face up to what I am about to do. What's going to happen?

"Coming," I hear a muffled reply coming from the bathroom.

Willow enters the room in her fluffy dressing gown and slipper socks. Her auburn hair falls effortlessly down her small shoulders and curls at the ends. Even though she hasn't brushed it, it's still beautiful. My heart aches how how beautiful my girlfriend is. I can't even begin to describe how much I love her.

"Hey beautiful," I whisper and open my arms and she lightly steps into them.

Hold on for this may be your last hug with her, a little voice directs to me.

Leave me alone. I try my utmost hardest to push all niggling thoughts away and stamp them down.

"Danny are you sure you okay?" She pulls away and holds my face in her cool hands and looks into my eyes searchingly.

"I need to talk to you," are the only words that fall clumsily out of my mouth and I watch her face as two frowns lines make their across her brow.

"Okay." She says and drops her hands.

"Will..." I just stand the speechless. What the fuck do I say to her. 'Oh yeah sorry I forgot to tell you, I killed your brother.' Fuck my life. Breathe Dan breathe, I hear Dads words echoing thorough my head. Those were the words he said to me when I got stressed. Thinking about him redeems myself. It calmed me knowing that Dad would always be on my side.

I look up at the eyes which I am so deeply in love with. The eyes which illustrate the exact emotions felt. The eyes which crinkle when they are happy. The eyes which swirl with love and happiness. But they're not swirling at the minute. They're frowning eyes. Worried eyes. Tell her now a voice eggs me on. Tell her. You're worrying her Danny! Can't you see? Man up. Just do it.

"Will... I've got something to tell you.."

"But Dan you've already said that?.." Her soft voice shatters my heart. If I had one wish right now it would be not to have to tell her. Not to have to live though this pain.

Do it.

"Willow. It was me."

She frowns even more looking very lost and confused. She lifts up her freckled arm and rakes her fingers through her hair. God this is killing me.

"Dan I've got no idea what you're on about."

"Willow. This is one of the most difficult things I have ever had to say to someone. Especially to someone who I love so much. Before I tell you what I'm about to tell you, I just want to say that I love you okay."

She's frowning deeply now and looked very worried. It has to come out. Now.

"It was an accident Willow. But it was me. I couldn't see him I promise! It was over so soon, so fast, I had no time to think. No chance to break. But there's no other way to put it. I killed Noah on 21st October 2004. It was an accident. Please understand. Please Willow. I'm sorry, I'm really sorry." My words come out muddled and jumbled. My head has cleared slightly and I realise what I just did. I told her. I actually just told her.

But what is she going to do? I lift my chin to see how she's reacted.

She's just standing there. Frozen. Her face has turned this ashen colour. Her hands have gone white.

"Danny..?" She says in a daze.

"Willow I'm really sorry, there's no way else to put it. Please understand."

Tears are trickling down her face now. But she hasn't moved. She's stuck to the spot. Her face has turned white now and her eyes are stuck on my face. Wide eyes.

"It can't be," her voice says rigidly. "It can't be." She's in a daze, she is acting like a zombie. It's scaring me and I shake her shoulders firmly.

"Willow. Listen to me. I'm not making it up. I promise! Listen to me!"

"But... But... Danny?" She still hasn't snapped out of it and the tears which I have been fighting to hold in for hours come pouring down my face.

Willows snapped out of zombie mode now and she's looking at me afraid. As if I might kill her any second.

"What am I doing here?" She whispers.

"Willow please listen! I can make you understand!" I try to pull her into a hug but she pushes me away.

"Willow please." I beg, but she's lost it now. I knew this would happen.

"So that's what you've been keeping away from me all this time then?" Her voice is beginning to rise and her words shoot straight through me.

"So it was you." Her face is beginning to darken to a red colour.

"I have to go Danny." She flees from the room, and runs into the bedroom and I fall to my knees.

Sweet Jesus what have I done? She can't leave me? Without her by my side, I am nothing. Broken.

I hear her grabbing her guitar from by the door and shoving clothes into a suitcase.

"Willow please don't leave me!" I shout through my tears but noone replies, I can just hear rustling of clothes being shoving into the holdall.

I walk to the room, my legs are as heavy as lead.

"Willow please."

"Stop it Danny. I can't do this." She's zipping up her suitcase.

"Why didn't you tell me before Danny? I though I could trust you."

It's those words which pain me the most. Like a knife slicing my heart open.

"I have to go," and I just stand there helpless and she gives me one last look as opens the door.

"Don't follow me. Leave me alone." are the last words I hear before she closes the door behind her.

She's gone.

=•=•=•=•=•=

Hey'all:)

Thanks for reading this, it's incredible how supportive you are all being! I love you all so much.

This chapters... Well... Sad. And it was difficult to write.

Love you all

R 🍀🍀