Chapter 26 #2
She flushes and presses her lips softly against mine.
I sigh in delight as I slip my tongue between her lips.
Her tongue wavers against mine softly as our kiss becomes deeper, becoming one of heartbreak and forgiveness altogether.
I fight against her hold. When she finally releases the grasp on my hands, I rush them into her hair.
I pull her closer to me as she gasps at the tension I cause on her scalp.
“Heaven. This is what heaven should be,” I whisper in between kisses.
I drag one of my hands down her spine and slide my fingers into the back of her skirt, grasping her plump ass. She pulls away from my lips and looks down at me before an evil grin overtakes her face, suddenly disappearing once again.
I roll my eyes and stare at the ceiling. “Really,” I grumble.
She appears floating above me, smiling at my evident frustration. “I was quite sincere when I said you must rest, Shadow.”
I can’t help but smile back, though, her beauty overtaking any ounce of annoyance I had brewing inside me. “I can’t get enough of you,” I whisper.
She floats down slowly and becomes a solid form on the side of the couch by my feet. “I know.” She places her hand on my leg and rubs small circles across my thigh. I relax into the soothing sensation of her comforting me when I look over for my cellphone.
“Where’s my phone? What day is it?” I ask, suddenly feeling the disorientation from unconsciousness overtake me. She hesitates for a moment, then disappears and reappears with my phone. She holds it away for a second longer before slowly handing it over to me.
“You have a few dear ones quite concerned for you. It has… It has been a number of days.”
I reach my hand out, taking the phone. I turn it on and look at her with my brows pinched. “Milly, what date is it exactly?”
There’s a part of me that knows what date it is, just from the way her body language is presenting unease. She always has perfect posture, but she appears tenser. She has the mask on that she thinks does wonders at hiding how she truly feels. But I know my Milly. I know she’s scared.
I glance back down at my phone, see the date, and exhale shakily. “It’s the 5th of October,” I say quietly. I’ve been asleep for weeks?
I swallow hard. She looks up at me, and it looks as though her eyes are filling with tears.
“It is,” she says faintly. We sit in silence as we watch fear, sadness, and affection pass across each other’s faces.
“How—how am I even alive then?”
“I had my dear friend, one with some knowledge in the healing talents, set up an IV to give you fluids and another medical device for nourishment. It was not the finest remedy by any means, but one that did keep your body going. It’s a massive reason why you might feel poorly.”
I worry my lip between my teeth and ignore the incomprehensible. I’ll dive into that later.
“What are we going to do?” I grab her hand and rub my thumb across the top.
She glances at the clock against the wall. “There are still some hours left for us yet. My friend shall be arriving shortly, once he’s seen to his prior engagements, to help us find a resolution based on what we have started to establish.” She nods her head to the mirror on the table to our side.
There is still no reflection showing through the glass, and the dust appears to have been completely removed from the ornate, golden frame. My stomach flips with anxiety at the possibility that this theory we have truly is only that—a theory.
It’s intimidating to use something based on a belief without true, evident proof. But we don’t have the time or subjects to test it.
Milly interrupts my chain of thought. “Let me prepare something for you to eat, Shadow, to replenish your strength.”
At her words, my stomach instantly grumbles, and I blush. She giggles and disappears in a blink.
I sigh, unlocking my phone. There are a handful of unread messages. Most are from my friend Bea, and, unfortunately, many are from my father.
Bea:
Can you call me? I’m going away in a few months and would love for you to join the girls and me!
Bea:
Just touching base, I haven’t heard from you…
Bea:
Did I do something wrong?
Bea:
Now you’re freaking me out—are you alive? I don’t want to message your dad, but I will.
Bea:
Your dad doesn’t even know where you are. If you ran away, I swear to God, I’ll kill you. I would’ve run away with you.
I frown at the messages, my heart clenching at the worry that I’ve put on one of my closest friends through. Shit.
I quickly typed her a message explaining that I’m all right and would call her as soon as I could. I erase it and retype it a handful of times, second-guessing whether I'll have the chance to talk to her again.
I decide to be as honest as possible.
Me:
Bea, I’m so sorry. I didn’t have my phone, and it has been off the entire time.
I’m okay right now, but don’t freak out (I know you will), but I just woke up from a coma.
I’m finally getting all the information on what happened, but I’ll call you as soon as I can to tell you everything I learn. I’m still confused as well. I love you.
I swipe out of the text thread and dreadfully open the one with my father.
Father:
Grace, why am I being notified of multiple absences?
Father:
This can impact your grade for the classes. I hope you understand the severity of your choices. This is not the right foot to start on.
Father:
Your friend messaged me. She hasn’t heard from you either. Where are you? I stopped by your dorm, and your roommate Jocelyn isn’t around either. Just tell me if you’re okay.
I roll my eyes. There’s no way that he actually cares about my well-being. For fucksake, he forced me here in the first place. A place that now quite literally will be the end of me.
Father:
The priest stopped by my office today, asking about you.
He said he’s concerned that the workload is too much.
He cares about you, Grace. Everyone here wants to see you succeed.
Please don’t throw away your future. If you do not want to talk to me, at least reach out to Priest Brown.
I am sure he has endless resources for you.
I chuckle in disgust at the thought of Priest Brown panicking over my absence. I bet he really is concerned about me missing, especially for his stupid ass ritual.
“You’re laughing. Dare I ask why?”
I startle at hearing Milly’s voice so quickly as she places down a bowl of stew.
Steam rises from the bowl as the smell of the beef permeates the air. I sit up and show her the last message. Her body flares with a soft white light– her rage obvious.
“Such a foolish, foolish man,” she says with a click of her tongue.
“I just can’t believe my father can’t see past his bullshit. Part of me is worried that he does see through it and wants to rid himself of the one problem in his life.”
“You mustn’t think that way, my shadow. I should dearly hope it is not the latter.
And this dear friend of yours, Bea, pray tell—who might she be?
” She leans over, grabs a pillow, places it on my lap, and then fluffs the one behind my back.
She then lifts the bowl of food and places it on the pillow.
She’s acting casual, but I see the way her body language has changed. She’s more stiff with her movements.
“Mmm,” I hum. “She’s been one of my best friends for years. We’ve been there for each other through everything.” I smile sadly. “Through loss, through love, through adventure. I think you’d like her a lot. She doesn’t live far from here either.
When all of this is done, I’ll invite her over.
That bluebird pin on my bag? It’s from Bea.
She gave it to me when I moved. Said I was taking flight, but had to remember her blue wings helped.
” I laugh. “She really has been a rock for me all these years.” I look briefly at my phone, then back up at her. “She’s always been a good friend.”
Milly nods to what I’m saying, but remains quiet. I raise an eyebrow, waiting for her to respond, but she offers a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes.
“You’re quiet,” I say rather than ask. She busies herself with the blankets, and I place my hand on her forearm. “You’re not… jealous, are you?” I ask.
“Oh, hush. I was simply entertaining curiosity.” A slow blush crosses her cheeks, and I grin, feeling a sense of warmth at her jealousy.
I trace mindless circles across her forearm, pulling her closer to me to whisper in her ear, “Bea is not you, Milly.” I nip at her ear, and she pulls back with a squeal.
But the lightheartedness fades just as quickly as Milly starts chewing on her lip, sadness creeping through her eyes.
“Milly.” She looks down, but I lift her chin up once more. “Milly. She is not you.”
Her eyes tighten with emotion. “No, Grace. She has been granted the profound honor of witnessing every beautiful wonder and every heartbreaking trial that have woven themselves into the very essence of who you are in this lifetime!” She visibly trembles, and I move the soup off my lap to be able to place both of my hands on the sides of her face.
“Milly, I love you. We’ll make new memories together.”
She shakes her head, a single tear falling from her eyes. “I wish you could…remember ours, Shadow,” she whispers. I frown and nod.
“I wish I could, too.”
She turns on her feet, tossing over her shoulder with slight pain in her voice, “Please eat. We shall have time to worry after you have eaten.”
I nod and lift the spoon to take a sip of the stew. I moan softly as my taste buds tingle in delight. I was starving.
“Thank you, Milly.” She beams instantly at me in response and floats up as she starts to tidy up her space. I observe her as I eat, and when I’m finished, I find myself lying back down and falling asleep.