Moths use the moonlight to navigate and understand the right direction to keep rising in the night sky. That’s why sometimes they also get attracted to other sources of brightness. When drawn by fire, they will not feel the danger until their wings burn, but they won’t stop or pull back. They will keep sinking into it.

Richard said he tasted a slice of heaven during our lunch. He sighed deeply, smiled like a silly kid, and asked me many ice-breaking questions. He seemed interested in knowing what foods I liked, my favorite places in town, and what music blasted on my earphones when I focused.

Prince Charming played humble and said he knew I was a tough customer but “treated my time to accept his invitations with the utmost respect” — a very weird choice of words for someone who kept nagging about it daily. He also reinforced he was an incurable romantic and a true gentleman, a lost jewel among his kind.

“You’ll notice I’m not like the other guys you dated. Nu-uh. I’m one of the last ones of my species, nothing like these sissy dudes you see around nowadays.”

As if I had the intention of interacting with another disgusting leech like you.

I giggled and followed along with his delusion. We had a few more dates after that and started leaving school together every day, as I understood this was the ritual to let people understand our relationship was official.

For the first three weeks, that himbo was not only polite at all times but also gave me presents and complimented my intellect and beauty whenever he had the chance. It was as if the man who threatened Barbara over the phone was his doppelgänger, and I misjudged an innocent person.

Also, Steele walked through the school hallways like an inexperienced actor who just won the Oscar for Best Actor. He felt pride and pleasure in it and made sure everyone noticed it.

His earned confidence was as annoying as watching someone ugly acting like they’re not. But there was a positive outcome for it, too. Richard stopped with the jokes, and I could work in peace in the teacher’s room.

“Good afternoon, everyone. Isn’t it about time summer says farewell? I can’t take this heat anymore.”

Mrs. Davis walked to her desk, books and her pencil case in one hand, her loyal green Chinese fan in the other, waving frantically. She wore a blue navy dress with golden buttons, golden mules, and fancy jewelry. I thought she was always dressed for Sunday service or the rapture.

“It should, Joanne. Or else we all could leave our classrooms and teach inside the pool.”

Her loud laugh filled the air, and Rick, silent until then, followed along. Davis walked behind him, putting her hands on his broad shoulders.

“Someone had a sudden change of humor, huh? It’s good to see you loosen up, Richard.”

Joanne enjoyed every opportunity to mess with him and touch his muscular body. He didn’t mind. Quite the opposite — all that attention was a full meal for his ego.

“How I would not be with someone that amazing by my side, Mrs. Davis?”

He winked at me, and I smiled back.

“Look at that. The young ones’ love is so pure. You’re so passionate! It brings back memories of when I was your age, Tess.”

“I’m sure you’ll share those thoughts with your husband tonight, won’t you, my friend?”

She chuckled.

“Tessa, if that man doesn’t make me speak in the tongue of the angels, he’s gonna hit the couch for at least two days and pray to the Lord to forgive his sin. I will head home and see how strong his faith is right now! Take care, you two.”

Joanne said her goodbyes, laughing, and we followed along. I enjoyed her company and her high spirits. She was someone trustworthy and kind.

Richard and I finished working on our attendance sheets an hour later and left. He carried my things as we walked to his car because “he was a gentleman, and that’s a man’s role.” I played along.

“So, do you wanna do something tonight? I still have plenty of energy left.”

He opened the passenger door for me.

“Actually, yeah. There’s something I’d like us to do together.”

* * * * *

As all facades must fall one day, Richard’s faded quickly. When I asked him to work out with me, Richard felt obliged to hint about things he disliked about my body and appearance. He offered tips on how I could improve so he would be more attracted to me. One day, we were having lunch at school, and he thought it would be funny to announce in front of the other teachers how I was flat as a pancake. Nobody laughed.

Since then, we’ve had a new night routine. We leave school, park his car near the gym in Maplewood Grove, and exercise. Then, we go for a run to complete our cardio training. 

He went a step further and told me what kind of workout clothes I should wear — shorts weren’t adequate, and wearing a top without a shirt was also out of the question.

On our first week there, he almost dropped all the weight he was lifting on the bicep curl machine because some random guy asked if we could switch between my series. Steele approached us like a dire wolf and stayed on high alert for any man who tried to interact with me.

It was interesting, though, that he always helped the women at the gym who looked young and thin. Whenever a sweet voice called, “Hey Ricky, can you help me?” he left my side and ran to aid them in setting up their equipment, learning how to exercise, or even doing a quick massage to relax the muscles.

After an intense training session one night, we went on our run. Few people were on the streets, as it was already getting late. On our last mile, I spotted the convenience store on the corner of Meadowview Path and Sunset Ridge.

A slim figure wearing leggings, a plain pink T-shirt, and white Converse was leaving the establishment, and looking at her phone. Her wavy hair, tied in a messy bun atop her head, had already imprinted itself in my memory.

As we approached, Richard waved.

“Hey, Mrs. Jones! Good evening.”

She raised her green eyes from the phone, smiled, and shook Richard’s hand.

“What a delightful surprise! Good evening, Mr. Steele, Ms. Graham.”

“It’s good to see you, Mrs. Jones.”

We shook hands as well. This woman looked as bright as the sun, even at such a late hour.

“Babe, I need to buy some stuff, ok? Excuse me, ladies. I’ll be right back.”

Rick touched my arm and went inside. 

“So, you guys work out around here?” Mia asked.

“Yes, at the gym on Willow Brook Drive.”

“I’ve never been there, but my neighbors say it’s a nice place.”

“It is, very well-equipped. But the music isn’t that good. I mean, the grunting of men working out isn’t pleasant.”

We laughed.

“I can see how dedicated you are, but I hope you take me up on my offer to visit us whenever you’re in the area, Ms. Graham. We live four houses away,” she pointed up the street and winked.

I chuckled.

“Please, call me Tessa. I’ll consider it next time. Hopefully, I’ll be less sweaty and look more appropriate.”

Steele came walking out of the store. We said our goodbyes to Mrs. Jones and went back to his car. As we got in, he locked the doors and turned to me. Now, instead of having a smile on his face, his jaw was stiff. He clenched his lips and tapped the wheel with both thumbs.

“What’s the matter, Rick?”

“I saw the way the cashier from the convenience store was looking at you, Tessa.”

“What do you mean?”

“Are you friends or something?”

I shrugged.

“I honestly have no idea what or who you’re talking about.”

He scoffed and then slammed the car’s dashboard with his fist.

“Don’t make a fool of me, Tess. I’ll ask you one more time – do you know him or not?”

I squeezed myself against the passenger’s door.

“N-no, honey, I don’t know him. I-I’ve never seen him in my life, I swear.”

He got closer to me and looked straight into my eyes, staring for what seemed like an eternity.  When satisfied, he caressed my cheek with his hand and kissed me there.

“I get it, babe. I believe you. Don’t go in there alone, ok?”

He turned the car on and drove. He was humming “Little Moments” by Brad Paisley back in his passionate mode, resting his hand on my leg and massaging it.

My heart stomped in my chest like a stallion going for the last lap of a horse race. I could mimic the same movements and expressions my mother used to make when my father threatened her in public, and Rick fell for my acting.

That obnoxious person resembled a safe. There was a combination code to unlock the worst in him, and I had found it. As a mother, I knew what I had to endure to be with my son. As a killer, I wouldn’t waste prey, even one as big as him, and even if it threatened my body.

Now that I had the password to the part of him I wanted access to, it was a matter of time before I made people smell the rotten stench he kept under the disguise of sweet perfume. A step closer to my future and Steele’s demise.

Editor: Lucy Cafiero