Her Home, His Heart | ✓

☆*✿THIRTY-ONE (31)❀*★

♪♪I've dealt with ghosts and faced all my demons...
For once I'm at peace with myself
I've been burdened with blame
Trapped in the past for too long
I'm moving on.♪♪

ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ [I'm moving on] - [Rascal Platts]

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The quiet car ride to the cemetery was a vast difference to Kian's racing mind. Thoughts of what facing his trauma meant for him ran through his mind. With every mile they covered to reach their destination, his hands fidgeted, and the empty feeling within the pit of his stomach grew.

Esmé laid her hands over his to stop their consistent movement. This pulled his attention from himself to the feeling of warmth her hands emitted on his. A sense of calmness washed over Kian once he turned to her. The intense support her eyes conveyed gave him all the strength he needed.

Once they got to their destination, Kian's fidgeting had seized, despite the way it still felt like his throat clogged his organs. They all alighted from the car, with Ronnie leading the way through the presence of other headstones. The presence of some dull grey headstones was brightened up the bunch of flowers placed by them. A few of them lacked the brightness for they either lacked the presence of the flowers or the flowers were dying. 

The feeling of tranquillity the cemetery emitted did nothing to calm Kian's nerves. He frowned while his eyes moved around, searching the strange territory they were in, which caused his heart to sink further down as they followed Ronnie to his father's headstone.

Esmé looked up at him as the strength in his stride reduced. His constant searching refreshed her memory, and her heart sank, understanding the thoughts that plagued his mind. She squeezed the hand in hers and offered him a sad smile.

He didn't even have the courage to attend his father's burial.

Ronnie halted by the side once he located the headstone, getting the confirmation he needed from the woman who stood in front of it. She packed her shoulder-length coffee-brown hair up into a ponytail revealing her slouched forward shoulders varying to her regular authoritative posture.

Persephone turned at the sound of approaching footsteps. Her tear-filled eyes matching her dishevelled state focused on them. The sight of them drew her head back instantly, and her palm flew to her mouth, choking back a sob once her gaze fully settled on Kian.

A certain pull moved Kian's leg instantly towards his mother, releasing Esmé's hands as he went. He stood an inch in front of Persephone, his strength dissipating with the ability to look her in the eye.

Kian broke down as Persephone pulled him into a hug, releasing her own sob as they grieved together.

The sight before her had a smile popping onto Esmé's lips. It may have taken one year for it to happen, but she was glad it happened after all.

Ronnie tugged her hand away from the duo to offer them their much-needed privacy. Once they reached further away from mother and son, Esmé pulled her hands away from Ronnie's hold, suddenly not appreciating the fact that they were alone without their common goal. It reminded her of the guilt she carried, and she didn't like that.

Ronnie sighed as he watched her, understanding her. "Thank you," he said with great sincerity. His voice dripping with the double meaning his words conveyed.

"I didn't do any of them for you," Esmé replied, turning away from him.

"I know, which is why I'm more thankful. The weight of guilt is undeniably heavy, and I know that very well. I will not justify that anyone of us has it worse than the other. I'm just sorry you got pulled into our web of lies even if that wasn't entirely our fault..."