AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Each day that goes by is filled with thoughts of you. I find myself torn, caught between the world I know and the feelings that have grown between us. I’m afraid, perhaps, that our destinies might not be meant to intertwine permanently. The thought that our shared moments might have been a brief spell of magic haunts me. Yet, regardless of time and distance, the significance of our bond remains undiminished. You occupy a special place in my heart, one that spans galaxies.
Forever in my thoughts, Xanther
Though the brutal honesty stung, it resonated. Perhaps our relationship only existed in those enchanted moments out of time.
Chapter Eight
Noelle
An agonizing three weeks had elapsed, and there was still no communication from Xanther. His previous letter, filled with doubts about our shared future, had left me in turmoil. When my subsequent messages to him went unanswered, my worst fears seemed to be confirmed. Perhaps my own outpouring of emotions had overwhelmed him, causing him to retreat. With a heavy heart, I decided to cease my attempts at reaching out.
The weight of his silence was almost unbearable. As Christmas Eve dawned, I found myself in a state of emotional disarray. Gifts, still wrapped in their festive paper, lay haphazardly beneath the Christmas tree. Traditional holiday dishes, which I’d prepared more out of habit than enthusiasm, sat untouched on the dining table. Even the fire in the hearth, usually a source of warmth and comfort, seemed to burn halfheartedly, its flames flickering weakly.
I found solace on the sofa, huddled beneath a blanket, occasionally dabbing at my eyes with a tissue as a feel-good holiday romance played on the television. The taste of my tears mingled with the sweetness of the marshmallows melting in my hot chocolate, adding a bitter note to the drink.
I was so engrossed in my own misery that the initial, timid knock at the door barely registered. When the knocking persisted, I mustered the energy to get up, albeit reluctantly.
Opening the door, I began, “Look, I’m really not in the mood for carolers tonight, so...” My voice trailed off as my eyes widened in shock.
Standing before me, with snowflakes adorning his hair and a sheepish smile on his face, was Xanther. “Surprise,” he said, his voice tinged with uncertainty, accompanied by a slight shrug.
For a moment, I was rendered speechless. Against all odds, Xanther was here, on Christmas Eve, just when I felt most alone.
Before I could find the words to express my astonishment, he stepped forward, pulling me into a comforting embrace. “I’m so sorry for my prolonged silence,” he whispered into my ear. “I was lost in my own thoughts, but now I’ve found my way back to you.”
With those simple words, joy and relief flooded through me. Xanther had returned, and our story wasn’t over yet.
I clung to Xanther, afraid he might vanish if I let go. After so many silent weeks, having him here felt like a dream.
“You’re really here,” I finally gasped, pulling back to search his face as though to confirm he was real. “After all this time, I thought...”
My unspoken fears lodged in my throat - that we were over, that he had moved on and forgotten me.
Xanther’s eyes brimmed with emotion as he gazed down at me. “Not one day passed that I didn’t think of you, Noelle,” he confessed ardently. “Being apart left me feeling hollow, like some essential fragment of my spirit remained here while the rest stayed on Yule. I felt torn asunder.”
He lightly brushed away a stray tear trailing down my cheek with his thumb.
“Can you find it in your heart to forgive my silence? I was adrift, conflicted and unsure of which path to take. Only now have I finally found my way back to where I belong.”
His sincere words washed over me, erasing the lingering hurt our separation had caused. None of that seemed to matter now. He had returned - that was all that counted.
“Of course I forgive you,” I whispered, resting my head against his broad chest and closing my eyes in profound relief. “I’m just so very glad you’re here.”
I pulled him tighter into my arms, wanting to freeze time in this miraculous moment when we were finally reunited. I never wanted to let him go again.
We held each other in the circle of lamplight, the rest of the world fading away. There was so much to say, but for now just being together was enough.
I eventually drew back to study Xanther’s beloved face. So much time had passed, yet my feelings had only grown stronger. But did he still feel the same after all this time apart?
I took a deep steadying breath. “I need to tell you something,” I began slowly. “When you left last year, I was afraid I’d never see you again. The thought was unbearable, because...because...”
My pulse pounded as I forced out the words. “Because over this past year, I’ve come to realize that I care very deeply for you, Xanther. As more than a friend.”
Xanther’s eyes searched mine, his expression unreadable. I forged ahead.
“We created something special that Christmas Eve, didn’t we? Something worth fighting for. What I’m trying to say is...you mean everything to me.”
I laid my heart bare, praying he would understand what I could not yet say outright.
