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Sometimes, I sit beside him when I sense that he’s having one of those difficult moments. I reach out, taking his hands in mine, offering a silent but reassuring presence. In those moments, I can feel the depth of his gratitude conveyed through gentle squeezes.
Our connection deepens with each passing day, and while we may not speak openly about our inner demons, there’s a silent understanding between us. We’re a team, bound by the shared challenges of this mission and the comfort we find in each other’s presence.
“Anya,” he begins softly one morning, just as I’m really feeling at my worst with all of this. “I promise you, you’re safe here in the cave. We won’t let anything happen to you.”
I take a deep breath, allowing his words to wash over me like a soothing balm. It’s like he can read my mind. “Thank you, Wyatt. This whole situation is just so overwhelming.”
He nods empathetically and then looks deep into my eyes. “I know it is. But trust me, everything will start to make sense soon. We’ll figure this out together.”
His words bring a sense of comfort, and I reach out to touch his arm in gratitude. “You’re so brave, Wyatt, facing all this despite your own struggles with PTSD.”
He smiles humbly, a hint of vulnerability in his expression. “It’s not easy, but I have a purpose here, just like you. And knowing that we’re all in this together gives me strength.”
As Wyatt turns to look at me, the air growls heavy around us. His eyes hood over and it seems like he’s going to finally kiss me for the very first time. My heart pounds with excitement, and nerves too. I feel like I’ve been waiting for this moment forever.
His eyes seem to darken with desire, as I lean in slightly, getting closer to him too, my breath hitching in anticipation. The world around us fades away, and it’s just Wyatt and me, just us as humans, not as therapist and client anymore, that relationship feels long gone, sharing an intimate connection that’s been building for far too long…
But before our lips can finally meet, the moment is shattered by a sudden growl that ripples through the air. The sound is menacing, sending shivers down my spine and breaking the spell that had enveloped us.
Wyatt’s eyes widen, and we both instinctively look around, searching for the source of the unsettling noise…
“Oh my God, Owen!”
The moment is shattered as Owen bursts back into the cave, his body bearing visible physical injuries. His presence sends shockwaves through the cave, and I’m filled with immediate concern for his well-being.
But what truly chills me to the bone is the sight of Lucas following closely behind him, his eyes devoid of their usual light and vitality. It’s a look I’ve only seen in my patients battling depression, a haunting emptiness that speaks of deep inner turmoil.
“What happened?”
As the tension in the cave thickens, I can’t help but demand answers from Owen and Lucas about what happened, my voice laced with concern and frustration. However, both of them remain evasive, exchanging uncertain glances that only deepen my sense of unease.
“Er, I fell,” Owen lies.
“Yeah, just a scratch,” Lucas agrees.
“Don’t be ridiculous. Tell me what happened.”
Despite my determination to uncover the truth, it becomes clear that Owen and Lucas are not ready to share the details of their ordeal. They won’t even meet my eyes.
In the absence of answers, my instincts kick in, and I know that the most immediate concern is to tend to Owen’s physical wounds.
I gather what supplies we have at our disposal, working quickly to clean and dress their injuries. Owen’s wounds are deep, and the forest’s unforgiving terrain has left him battered and bruised. Lucas, on the other hand, seems to carry injuries that are more internal, hidden behind the walls of his tormented expression. I don’t know what monsters are causing these issues, but I’m pretty sure they are nothing of this world, which opens up something else… the possibility that life, as I have known it, is over forever. Once I learn whatever this is, I won’t ever be able to let that information go…
Roarke enters the cave, his demeanor distant and detached, as if he’s deliberately avoiding all of us, but it’s especially noticeable with me. I can sense his indifference, and it stirs a complex mix of emotions within me.
As the days in the cave have passed, his interactions with me have grown increasingly sparse, and the silence between us has become a palpable presence. Part of me is relieved, for I’ve been grappling with the weight of a monumental secret, one that has the power to alter the course of our lives, but I’m also a little upset because it’s a reminder that I never meant anything to him, even if he did to me.
As I watch Roarke from a distance, I can’t help but be struck by his rugged handsomeness, a trait that time seems to have only enhanced. Memories of his youthful allure flood my mind, reminding me of a time two decades ago when we were entangled in a passionate love affair.
Around him, I always find myself dwelling on the past, specifically when Roarke left me behind without a word. It was a painful chapter in my life, a period of heartbreak and abandonment.
But the most life altering revelation came soon after his departure when I discovered that I was pregnant with his child. It was a secret I had carried with me all these years, hidden away like a precious gem, a testament to a love that was lost but never forgotten.
The longer I wait to tell him about Ryan, the more the guilt gnaws at me. I’ve been trying to find the right moment to tell Roarke that he has a son, a truth I’ve kept buried for two decades. But the forest, our mission, and the tension surrounding us seem to conspire against my attempts to share this life-altering revelation. I really don’t know if I can ever do it… never mind if he won’t even look my way…
FIVE
OWEN
