Page 50 of April
EPILOGUE
GRACIE-MAY
Waking up looking into his eyes was perfect, they showed gentle concern. He could see me falling apart and was silently begging me to stay with him. He leaned down and kissed my forehead, his scent engulfed me, sending me into a place of pure bliss. To a place where no one could hurt me, hurt us. We keep each other here, alive, breathing and feeling.
He settled his hand lightly on my shoulder and instead of flinching like I usually did, I was soothed by his touch. I didn’t fear him in any way, but my body wasn’t conditioned to feel touch in a beautiful way, I was used to violence.
He left his hand where it was and spoke in such a soft voice, I felt his words calming me. It was his tone even more than the actual words which soothed me. It felt as if I was wrapped in a blanket of his caring.
“Gracie, I’m in love with your smile.” He feathered a kiss on my lips.
“Kaden, I’m in love with your voice.” I brushed another kiss against his lips.
His arms wrapped me in safety, his eyes held longing.
“Gracie, I’m in love with your body.” He feathered his fingertips down my arms.
I smiled at the knowledge, it set my feelings on fire.
“Kaden I’m in love with your eyes.” I kissed each of his lids.
I could see Ari in the shadows of his eyes, being back here in his home kept her close.
He drew me onto his lap and I pushed my still tender body into him. The sun set in the sky overhead and a summer’s breeze danced over our skin.
Kaden kissed my nose. “Most of all, babe, I’m in love with you.”
“I’m deeply in love with you too, Kaden.”
We swung on the love seat hanging from his porch. It was our favorite spot and we sat out there often. It was where the sun kissed my skin and the breeze helped clear my mind.
When I’d been released from hospital I’d needed somewhere quiet where I could work through what had happened. I needed a safe place where Ben wouldn’t find me, so Kaden had brought me to his home. Even though it held so much darkness, so much sadness, Kaden swore we would replace it with love and light.
It had been two months since I was attacked by Ben. Two long months of nightmares waking me, finding myself in a hot sweaty mess.
They matched Kaden’s. He’d had just as many nightmares since we’d been living in his house.
I knew it was hard for him. It was a house he bought with Ari, at first it was filled with love and laughter. Then, drinking, fights, late nights and pill bottles took over and made both of their lives hell. It was the house she’d killed herself in.
If you knew what had happened and looked closely, the faint crimson red of blood could be seen on the living room floorboards where she’d slit her wrists.
Kaden hesitated every time he walked past and looked at the area.
I’d watched him as he quivered with flashbacks before giving me a weak smile.
One day, I hoped we could both heal each other, make our own happy memories. Have pleasant flashbacks of us and our life.
At the moment, we were happy just falling in love with each other and taking one day at a time.
Allowing the sad to be overtaken by the happy. The ugly to be overtaken by the beautiful.
We would heal and we would survive. For there is no greater power than that of love.
THE END.
