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Val watches intently as tears stream down my face, and I can no longer suppress the wellspring of emotions that have been building within me.
The weight of everything I have been holding back, the pain, the fear, and the uncertainty rises to the surface and I squeeze my eyes shut, attempting to contain the tide of emotions.
But the floodgates have been opened.
The raw, unfiltered emotions surge through every fiber of my being. It is though a dam has burst, releasing a torrent of pent-up feelings that I have kept tightly sealed for years.
I reminisce about the mornings when Darian would prepare breakfast for us, going out of his way to ensure that the amulets we sought caused me minimal discomfort.
Every memory flows through my mind, and I am struck by the countless small interactions that brought me peace and calm amidst the chaos that surrounded us. Whether it was a shared smile, a reassuring touch, or a simple act of kindness.
The bed shifts beneath me as Val’s forehead gently presses against mine, his nose angled down in a comforting gesture. Unable to contain my emotions any longer, a sob escapes from deep within, causing my entire body to shudder.
Val nudges me gently onto my back as he positions his weight on top of my chest, constricting my breath but anchoring me until my anxiety subsides.
I open my eyes to Val peering down at me, his ears perked forward. He tilts his head to the side, his gaze flickers to my tear-stained cheeks where another solitary tear descends.
My eyes flutter closed, and I draw in a ragged breath as Val’s warm tongue glides gently along the path where my tear had just trailed.
His body goes rigid as if he’s taken aback by his own display of affection.
My arms shift against his weight, and he adjusts his position to free their movement, and I wrap them tightly around his neck, stroking his fur.
“Thank you, Val.” I whisper as the tension eases from his body, and he leans into my touch.
I’m abruptly awakened, startled by a cold sensation against my cheek.
My initial reaction is to flail and swat at the source, my heart racing with a mix of confusion and alarm.
My frantic motions are met with a loud huff, and I still, registering the warm fur at my fingertips.
“Val?” My throat feels dry and scratchy.
Squinting in the darkness, I turn the switch on the bedside lamp. As the soft glow illuminates the room, my eyes instinctively shut tight, struggling to adjust to the sudden change.
When I finally manage to open my eyes, Val’s watching me with a wild look. The intensity of his gaze sends a wave of concern over me, and my brows pinch together.
“What is that look for?” I ask, my voice still hoarse.
Concern is plastered on his face as his gaze drops between us.
Following his line of sight, I glance down to my hands where crimson seeps through the bandages.
Shit.
“Did I do this in my sleep?” I question and Val’s ears perk up slightly as the unease within me grows.
“I don’t even remember anything.” I whisper softly, letting out a frustrated sigh.
Gently disentangling myself from the bed, I remove the makeshift bandages from my wounds, examining the stitches with the hope of finding them intact.
More than a few have fully reopened somehow, and it’s a short while later that I gently reapply the bandaging overtop to protect the stitching.
One more night of terrors and I might just become a nurse.
Moving to the kitchen, I reach for a glass to pour myself some orange juice. The citrus aroma fills the room as memories of Darian effortlessly surface, intertwining with the present moment.
Gazing down at the glass in my hand, I can almost see the faint reflection of his smile, as if the memory is etched deep within my heart.
