Chapter 30
Adrian
W hen we get back to the cabins, the silence is deadly. Both Layla and Hazel are staring at me, and the pieces start clicking together.
Layla understands first and walks away, coming back seconds later with Sam. When Isabella comes out of her cabin and realizes why I’m leaning on Jay for support, her eyes widen.
Layla and Sam rush to my side as the others join in. Sam’s voice is clear and focused when he tells me softly, “Okay, so right now, you have two options.”
This one goes straight to the point, I guess. My mind tries to avoid the stinging pain in my ankle and focus on his words.
“First option, I can help you get back to town. There are healers there and they’re amazing—you probably already know them.
You’ll be able to walk perfectly within an hour.
Those three make an awesome team. However, you will have to leave now.
The second choice: I can heal you. But it will take a few more hours to recover because I’m on my own. ”
Stella comes out of her cabin and her hand reaches out to cover her mouth in shock. Layla rushes to her side, explaining what happened.
“What is it with the healers in town?” Stella asks on a whisper.
“We call them the healers because, a few years ago, the three of them realized they had healing abilities. One could heal any physical injury, one could soothe the pain and the last one could help heal the mind. They all teamed up and got a house in our town. They turned it into a healing center so they could heal people in need. It’s a very beautiful place and they take great care of their patients. ”
The idea of leaving this place makes my heart pinch.
This place, this break, means so much to my sisters and me.
We’re finally making progress with the distance that used to feel endless and there’s no way I’m backing out now.
Not when I don’t know if an opportunity like this will come again.
Besides, if we return home, word will get out fast. People don’t know to keep their mouths shut in Westwood Spring, but it’s because they care and try to protect and care for the people in need.
Everyone will worry and ask way too many questions.
“We’re staying.”
Sam stays beside me; his eyes are full of understanding, but something about it throws me off. Like he expected me to make that choice. “Then we’ll get settled in my cabin. I can’t focus with this much noise.”
We get settled in his cabin he shares with Layla, and I sit on one of the beds as Sam gets some stuff out of his suitcase. Voices echo in the room as he says something to the others, and Stella steals one more look at me before Sam gently closes the door.
He smiles softly, almost apologetically, at me. “I can’t focus when there are people around.”
I smile. “I get it.”
He sits next to me, placing his hands inches away from my injured foot. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath as sparkles of yellow, almost gold, fly around my leg. His magic .
In the corner of my eyes, I find Stella and Jay outside, trying to discreetly look in through the cabin windows. I grin.
Sam’s sparks of magic whirl around my injured foot.
I close my eyes as I feel his powers working; a powerful, yet somehow also gentle, heat wraps itself tightly around my ankle.
I flinch as the gentle warmth turns into a burning sting.
Seconds tick by as the tension in my shoulders dissipates, and my clenched fist opens up as the pain slowly dulls.
I finally open my eyes to find Sam’s blue eyes unfocused. The door slowly creaks open as Isa and Jay come back in the cabin. For once, they’re both silent.
I chuckle. “This is what it takes to stop you two from bickering? I would have done this a long time ago if I had known.”
Jay grins while Isabella rolls her eyes.
…
I’m settled in comfortably as the sky dims and stars begin to appear. We decided to switch up the cabins for tonight since I needed the hours to recover and stay in bed. I hate being a bother, but my sisters practically forced me to stay in, so I had no other choice.
As the pale glimmer from the stars lights up the cabin, I snap out of my thoughts and turn to Jay, who refuses to leave my side and insists on sharing the cabin with me to make sure I am okay. He’s preparing for sleep as I look out the window.
Jay smiles as he passes by me again. “You okay?”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine.”
A light knock on our door echoes around us. Jay grins as he opens it, letting Stella come in with a warm smile. “Hi, Adrian.”
I grin. “Hi, Stella.”
Her eyes glimmer with worry and Jay leaves the cabin, closing the door gently behind him. Stella walks slowly to my side, sitting down on the other end of my bed as we stare at each other. “So, umm, are you feeling better?”
“Yeah, I am. I’m sorry for worrying you.”
“Don’t apologize. I was worried like crazy because you mean so much to me. The thought of you being hurt makes me want to fight life right back for hurting you.”
I chuckle. “Please don’t do that. It would kill me for you to get hurt protecting me.”
Stella smiles tenderly. “It’s been a long time since I cared so much about someone else. Seeing you hurt today just brought back protective instincts I’d forgotten I even had inside me.”
“I haven’t ever cared about someone else so much that I want to look after myself so she can have the peace of mind she deserves to feel.”
Her eyes fill with tears as her smile turns sad. “Adrian, don’t say stuff like that to me right now because I will start crying and I came here to make you feel better.”
I grin softly. “You didn’t have to check on me. I’m alright and I will be better tomorrow.”
She laughs. “Of course, I had to come here, you dumbass. I care about you too much not to. I’m not sure I could have slept tonight without knowing if you’re okay.”
“Well, now you know I’m perfectly well and you can get the rest you need.”
Stella’s bright eyes seem to see right through me as she scoots a little closer.
“Adrian, I know what it’s like to take care of everyone, to look after their every need.
Please don’t do that around me, okay? If you need my help, tell me.
If you need someone to look after you, I’ll be there.
I can’t bear the thought of you struggling alone when you keep helping me heal from everything without even trying.
You just . . . You don’t have to be strong all the time around me, okay? ”
My heart cracks, emotions spilling out fast. My vision gets blurry, despite my silent protests.
Stella’s eyes turn sad and she scoots closer and closer until she’s right by my side on the bed, her other shoulder touching the wall. She wraps an arm around me, giving me space to pull away if I need to. Not that I ever could.
Stella Brookstone has a healing warmth she spreads everywhere around her. She’s the sunshine parting the clouds on a miserable day, the comfortable fireplace on a cold winter night and the rainbow that shines through the rain. There’s no part of me that ever wants to pull away.
When I snuggle in closer, she holds me tight and says softly, “Let it out, I’m here. You’re safe.”
Her words reach a part of me I thought was long gone. When tears start welling in my eyes, there’s nothing I can do to stop the rush of emotions. I’ve had many breakdowns over grief in my life, many times where I let despair wash over me and pull me under.
But this time, the tears are silent. Because I’ve. Had. Enough.
Grief has haunted my life ever since it came in, and I can’t do it anymore. My relationship with my sisters can be fixed. I’ve seen the sparks of what it could be, but for it to happen, we need healing .
With Stella’s arms wrapped around me, what once seemed impossible seems entirely within reach. Healing feels easier than grief.