My Muse || READER X RAY || The Promised Neverland

📷 My Muse || Chapter Thirteen

I trudged down a familiar wooden staircase, making my way to the main entrance to Grace Field house. I saw Mama holding little Connie's hand. Something felt missing but I shrugged it off. Don turned around, surprised I was there. 

"y/n? You came?" I nodded, not ready to use my words again. 

Connie pulled her hand free from Mama's grasp and ran into my legs, holding them tightly. Tears fell from eyes. She was having regrets. 

"I changed my mind, I don't wanna leave anymore. I know I said I wanted to wait until y/n comes here, but I changed my mind. I wanna stay, I wanna stay." She cried so loudly and so heartbreakingly. My white uniform skirt turned gray with her tears. The emotions I had locked inside for as long I was locked away in that room started to bubble up. "C-Connie..." My voice broke, holding the little girl in my hands. 

Ray watched gravely, his cold glare almost sharper than a stab with a knife. I ignored him. 

"Co-Connie, y-you have t-to go." I stuttered out. The difficulty of relearning how to speak and the emotional suffering from Connie's adoption left a hole in my heart. 

Connie sniffled into my shoulder one last time. She let go and softly patted my cheeks, putting on the bravest smile I've ever seen. I fixed her little hat, a tear running down my face. "I'll miss you so much, Connie." She turned to the crowd of sobbing kids, Don the loudest and weepiest. "I-I promise to write. I promise to write everyone a letter everyday." Mama smiled softly, retaking the little girl's hand. "Say goodbye, Connie." She whispered. Her eyes filled with tears one more time. "Goodbye guys, I'll see you again soon!" She exclaimed. The large wooden doors of Grace Field House closed, yet something in my heart seemed to open. 

Ray stomped his way upstairs, visibly irritated. 

Emma grabbed my hand before I could chase after him. "y/n? Can we talk?" I would have politely declined, but her face was shadowed with so much sorrow, regret and concern. I'd never seen Emma look so sad. "Okay," I replied, allowing her to lead me into the dining room. 

"Where have you been?" She asked, the quiet clicking of our shoes filling the empty hallways. 

"Alone." I replied. I didn't know what else to say. 

"I-It's all my fault, y/n." Her voice started to break, her regret and guilt starting to show. "I-I told you to fo-follow him, I was the one who wanted to set you two up- I-I-" "Emma." I cut her off. I ran to the leftmost dining room table, a familiar giant bunny plush looking rather lonely. 

"Connie." She whispered.