Page 8 of Their Scarred Mate
The next-door neighbor ...the pie ...the barking of the animal...
“A dog...”she muttered to herself.“A simple dog ...not a wolf.”
“A wolf?Hush, child ...wouldn’t you be more comfortable on the couch?Come, now, I’ll help you.”
With the help of the elderly lady, Freya reached her couch.There she collapsed, feeling lightheaded.
“I’m ...I’m sorry...”she managed to say and the old lady simply smiled, with gentleness in her tone.
“No worries, dear.Are you feeling any better?”
For the first time, Freya realized she had no idea who the elderly lady was.But she didn’t have enough strength in her to feel afraid.
“Who are you?”
“Evelyn.I brought the pie.” Given her absent look, Evelyn hurried to add, “Your next-door neighbor.I was here moments ago, to welcome you into the neighborhood.”
“I’m ...I’m sorry.”
“No need to feel sorry, my dear.How are you feeling?”
“Lightheaded.”
“It’s normal.Here, smell this.It will make you feel better.”
It was the sweet scent of roses that surrounded her, and Freya did feel better.
“What is this?It’s wonderful.”
“It’s of my own design,” said the elderly lady, modestly.“Rose fragrance.It allows us to recover our bearings before anyone notices we’ve been mentally absent.”
Freya sat, feeling dizzy.That had to be the most brutal flashback ever.She could swear she was back in his clutches ...but instead, she was facing the most adorable, wrinkled face.
Evelyn had one of those faces, round and frank, smiling and tender.Her eyes were sharp, seeing more than Freya was comfortable sharing.Though kneeled, Freya sensed she was much more than an elderly lady.However, after years of smelling wolves in human bodies, she couldn’t feel a wolf inside the old lady.Evelyn was just an old, smiling woman, with eyes that saw too much for her comfort.
“How...?”
“How did I know you needed help?Easy, I peeked through the window.I’m an old curious woman, I’m allowed.”
Evelyn was smiling, but Freya was still reeling from the flashback.Her heart was beating wildly, and although Evelyn couldn’t feel it, she was too off kilter to allow someone into her private space.
“I’m ...I’m okay...”she managed to croak with the smallest voice.
Evelyn studied her face.
“No, you’re not.And I’m not going to ask what’s wrong.But trust me, little one.Things can only improve from here.”
“How do you know?”asked Freya abruptly.It was never her intention to disrespect the elderly woman, however, the way she spoke brought harshness into her voice.
“Because I too reached the bottom of an immense well,” said the lady, simply.“And I too managed to crawl my way back.So will you.And remember, you’re not alone, I live next door.Literally,” she added with a smile.
Freya looked into her small eyes, beaded with age, and she felt a longing like she’d never felt before.Because she understood that this old lady had gone to hell and back.And she was a soulmate.
She felt like home.Like the home she lost.
