"My Name Is Carnival", Jackson C. Frank

James was right. The jumpsuit was a good idea. We arrived very early that night, when the club was still waking up. I sang a few songs.

Aidan had been painting all day and, when he joined us, he had some tiny spots of colour on his white shirt and light jeans. It made me smile. His hair was all messed up. He had just come the way he was.

"You look stunning tonight," I said.

He seemed hurt. "Are you making fun of me? I didn't realize the dress code was red carpet tonight."

"Aidan, no," I said, brushing gently his face. "I am not making fun of you. I saw you and I was bewitched. That is the truth. You do not have to do anything special to look handsome, my love."

He looked surprised and happy, and I kissed him.

I have to say our relationship was living quite challenging moments as I had shut down a lot recently. And he was spending much time in his apartment, putting all he had to say in his art.

We danced tenderly, and this moment felt precious, for both of us. "I am going to tell him," I thought. "I have to."

I was trying to gather my thoughts and to decide how I wanted to say it, when I saw Anna's face on the other side of the room. She was near the backdoor of the club and she was livid. She approached us. "Boss..."

"What is it, honey?"

"He's here. In the alley."

"Who?"

"Henry."

As soon as I heard those two syllables, my thoughts collapsed. I felt like the oxygen of the room had been sucked out and my heart beat so fast it seemed it could explode.

I ran to the alley, followed by Aidan and Anna. Outside, I saw the immortal pacing the street, and I stopped for a second. I felt a wave of overwhelming anger. He saw me and tried to speak. But he stumbled, avoiding my look.

"Elise, I.. heard you were alive. I had to see you. I... I'm so sorry. I... I don't know what to say."

I slammed him against the wall, unable to say anything. Then I put my hands on his throat and I squeezed harder and harder.

"Boss, no. Stop it! Let him go." I could hear in Anna's voice that she thought at this instant I was on the verge of killing him. And it terrified her.

"El, let him go. You don't want to do that." Aidan came close to me and, softly, he put his hand on my arm. "My love, stop. Please."

I was panting. I looked at Aidan, at Anna. I saw the concern on their face, and I loosened my grip. Henry put his hands on his throat, trying to catch his breath. I took a step back, and he looked at me, in the yellow light of the only street lamp in the alley.

"I'm sorry. I didn't want to hurt him. I'm so sorry."

And my anger vanished in an instant, drowned in an ocean of sorrow. "I know you did not want to hurt him," I finally said, in a whisper. "It was not your fault."

And I took Henry in my arms, as he broke down in tears. "It was not your fault, Henry," I said again.

And I thought: "It was mine."