Chapter Fifty-five
Abigail-Ann
“The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.”
Audrey Hepburn
D espite being buried under what felt like five billion layers, the cold still cut through me, and therapy did little to ease my anxiety.
I told Dr. Green everything. Joshua’s return. The threats about the tape. How I still hadn’t told Mikkel. But the words felt strangled, stuck behind a wall I couldn’t break. The more I tried to speak, the heavier the silence became, pressing down on me like a weight I couldn’t shake.
Dr. Green studied me for a moment, then spoke gently. “What’s stopping you from telling him?”
I swallowed hard. “I don’t know… Maybe if I don’t say it out loud, it won’t be real.”
Her gaze softened. “Avoidance doesn’t erase reality, Abigail. But facing it? That’s how you take back control. ”
I exhaled shakily, nodding. I knew she was right. But knowing and doing were two different things.
Dr. Green’s words lingered. Avoidance won’t erase reality. Facing it will.
But how could I, when the truth felt like a ticking bomb?
I was pushing and pulling Mikkel, trapped in my own turmoil. If Joshua leaked that damn tape… Mikkel’s reputation, everything he built, could shatter. I couldn’t let that happen. But the more I tried to protect him, the deeper I sank.
Sitting up, I buried my head in my hands, the weighted blanket useless against the storm inside me.
The door creaked open, and I didn’t need to look up to know it was Mikkel. His presence grounded me, offering a fleeting sense of calm. He pressed a soft kiss to my forehead, lingering as if he could quiet the storm inside me.
“Hey,” I whispered, almost absently.
“How about we go outside?” he suggested, his calm voice offering a sense of safety.
“My feet feel heavy,” I mumbled.
“Sit at the edge of the bed.” He guided me with a gentle pull. “Open your legs.”
His hands gripped my thighs, guiding my legs to wrap around his waist, and for a second, I let myself feel something other than anxiety. Safe.
“Now, jump,” he said, his smile both playful and reassuring.
I threw myself into his arms, and without a word, he carried me down the hall to the West Wing space he’d designed. As he set me down, I felt lighter. Then I froze.
On the far wall, a projector cast a soft glow. A fluffy floor bed lay on the ground, a blanket like the one I’d left behind draped over it, and movie snacks were scattered around, making it feel like its own little world.
I turned to Mikkel who was already smiling. “A Beauty and the Beast marathon in your personal West Wing sounds fitting, right?”
I smiled, the first real one of the day. I nodded and without a word, snuggled into his chest .
“I’ve noticed how off you’ve been but, I also know you’ll talk to me when you’re ready. I’ll always be patient with you. In the meantime, I thought this might ease your mind.”
I closed my eyes, pressing closer. “You make everything lighter, Mikkel. You quiet my chaotic mind.”
He took my hands, grounding me. “ Tu sonrisa 186 became my sunrise, lighting up even my darkest days. Vuestra risa 187 is a melody I carry with me every day. Loving you is as natural as breathing, as vital as my heartbeat. I told you I’d always be here to calm your storms, and I meant it.”
“ Te quiero , 188 ” I whispered, my voice unsteady. “More than you can imagine.”
He kissed me—slow, deep, and full of meaning. Wrapped in blankets, we let the movies play in the background, but all I felt was him. As night blurred into dawn, one truth settled in my heart—Mikkel wasn’t just the man I loved. He was my anchor.
Tomorrow, I’d find the courage to tell him everything. I owed him that.