Chapter 17
Arax
My breakfast arrived earlier than usual, but I was already up.
I felt even more anxious today than I had the previous day.
I walked around my room, I knew I’d miss it.
It had been sort of a sanctuary where I had been given a chance to mend and recuperate, not just from my physical injuries but also, I realized, from the emotional ones inflicted by the death of my mom.
That was the difference between here and going back to my apartment.
Here I’d been alone, there I’d be lonely.
The girl who brought my breakfast also brought with her a small, empty duffle bag.
“It’s for your things, miss,” she explained. “Konstantine said you could take whatever was provided for you.”
I cringed at the thought of taking anything. As helpless as I was here, I wasn’t a charity case.
“I’ll just take what I’m wearing,” I said to her, but then I couldn’t resist. “How about the flowers? Can I take those?” I asked, pointing at the oversized bouquet of jasmine.
I had gotten so used to having them there every day.
They looked so beautiful, like they had been cut just for me every morning.
It felt like I might be able to take a piece of this place back with me, even if it was temporary.
She looked at me like I was insane but left the room and came back with some muslin cloth and wrapped them, then gently placed them in the duffel bag.
I worried about the delicate petals wilting and bruising in the car but the girl gave me a knowing smirk.
“They’ll keep. It’s been a pleasure, miss. ”
I went through the room and straightened out everything. I knew once I was gone, the staff would probably come in and clean it, but I didn’t want to leave looking like I’d been a slob the whole time.
Then I gathered my things, namely the duffle and my beat-up backpack, and sat in the armchair to wait.
Wherever I was, it was warm and snug. It was like home but better. I felt safe, as though I belonged… and I was happy.
“Arax,” someone said.
“Hmmm?” I answered. I was smiling. The euphoria was so intense, I never wanted to let it pass.
“Arax,” the voice said again, a little more loudly.
I woke up with a start. Konstantine was peering down at me. His hand was on my shoulder, but he quickly removed it.
“I’m sorry. I must have dozed off.”
“It’s time,” he said and went to grab my things for me.
“I can carry them,” I told him. “The bag is light. It’s just the flowers.”
He glanced at the empty vase but took the duffle and backpack anyway. We exited the room, and I turned to go toward the elevator, but Konstantine stopped me.
“We have to take the stairs,” he stated. “The elevator is being used by the staff.”
We walked in the opposite direction of the expansive hallway, toward the staircase.
Many doorways led to different rooms. As we passed the room next to mine, I almost tripped.
“Konstantinos A. Grigoriadis” was etched on a plaque next to the doorframe.
I had been staying next to him for my entire stay.
I looked up quickly, to see if he’d noticed my little stumble, but his face portrayed nothing, and his eyes were looking straight ahead.
When we finally made it downstairs, he led me down the entrance and outside, where Drake was waiting by his car, a black Range Rover, with Cyrus and Eleni.
I greeted them and turned toward Cyrus. “Come to make sure I’m actually leaving?” I asked him, laughing.
“You know it,” he said. “But as it turns out, Rox, you’re all right.”
“Thanks, I guess!” I stuck out my hand, and he shook it.
“Bye, cutie,” I said to Eleni.
“Are you coming back to visit?” she asked, pouting.
“I don’t think so,” I replied, shaking my head. Saying it out loud hit me with the reality that I’d never see this place again.
“I wanted to come see you, but Daddy said you needed to rest,” she said, continuing to pout.
“Well, your dad was right,” I told her. “You take care, okay?”
She nodded and impulsively ran to Konstantine.
“What’s that?” she exclaimed, snatching the black camera bag out of my backpack which Konstantine had set down near his feet. She dodged his attempt to take it from her and quickly unzipped it, then pulled out my camera.
“Eleni, give that back!” Konstantine shouted as she sidestepped him a second time, while the rest of us stood around watching the scene unfold. Cyrus laughed hysterically.
“I wanna take pictures!” Eleni yelled back at her uncle.
“It’s okay. She can’t hurt it,” I told Konstantine. “And I’m sorry, I never thanked you for replacing it.”
He sighed and waved his phone at her. She took it in exchange for my camera and happily snapped away.
Drake came up to me. “Ready?” he asked, giving me a smile.
“Yup, you’re still stuck with me for five more hours,” I said, reminding him.
“Wonderful,” he replied, making a gagging sound. He suddenly took my shoulders and spun me around. “Say good-bye,” he whispered in my ear and gently pushed me toward Konstantine.
I took in the castle one last time and approached Konstantine, who had just finished loading my stuff in the car. I had made the decision to be honest with him.
“For what it’s worth,” I said, “I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done.
Nurse Annalee said you were the one who found me and brought me to the hospital.
Then you opened up your home to me and helped me get better.
I don’t think I would have as quickly as I did without your generosity.
Thank you. I mean it. I owe you my life. ”
He looked at me, like really looked at me, probably for the first time since I had arrived.
Our eyes met, and I saw a flash of something in his.
Was it regret or possibly… longing, even?
I stood transfixed for just a moment. Still holding my eyes with his, he made the slightest move to say something but changed his mind.
“You’re most welcome, Arax,” was all he said.
I held out my hand to shake his, and when he took it, the warmth that usually flooded me at his touch was missing. It sent a chill through me instead.
I nodded at him, absentmindedly tucking my hair behind my ear, and looked around me.
“Good-bye Konstantinos,” I said deliberately as I turned to the car, waving at Eleni who was still preoccupied with her uncle’s phone.
I got in and we were off.