The Turning Point

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO- THERE IS NO "US"

Heloyse

I was leaning against my bedroom window, watching the day outside. The sunlight warmed my face, and with my eyes closed, I welcomed the beauty of the morning, even though I carried a weight in my chest. Despite all the sadness, I recognized the delicacy of that day that was dawning.
I had recovered so well from Michael, but now, I was overloading my mind over someone I barely knew. A man who made it clear that I was nothing more than a passing attraction. I took a deep breath, opening my eyes, while Will's scent still lingered on me, like a memory that refused to leave.
I sighed deeply, running my tongue over my lips, imagining that it was his that caressed them. But I needed to pull myself together. After taking a shower and taking care of myself, I prepared a cup of coffee and ate a slice of blueberry pie. Even so, my body was heavy, my mind confused. I went back to bed without sleep, without direction, without knowing where to start the day.
Lying down, with my fingers interlaced over my stomach, I stared at the ceiling. This was not how I wanted to live. I got up suddenly and made a decision: Will needed to know that this would not be repeated. I would not allow him to come close again. No more kisses. No more approaches.
With that in mind, I opened the closet and chose the floral dress Megan gave me. A light model, with sunflower prints, which left my shoulders bare and adjusted at the waist before opening into a flowing skirt. I put on my worn boots, let my hair down, and highlighted my eyes with pencil and mascara. I finished with a nude lipstick.
"Great," I thought, looking at my reflection in the mirror. I was ready.
I left the house and opened the gate before getting into the truck. Before heading off, I looked towards the pasture of Will's farm, hoping to see him touching the cattle, but he wasn't there.
Will's farm wasn't far, but each mile seemed to last an eternity. My heart was torn between the determination to confront him and the pain of wanting to see him. I still felt the weight of the previous night, which I washed away with silent tears on my pillow.
Arriving at the property entrance, the gate was open. Calvin, the farm foreman, was preparing to enter on his horse. When he saw me, he raised his hat in a polite greeting, smiling in a friendly way, and gestured for me to enter.
I drove to the front of the house, turned off the truck, and got out.
Every now and then, I saw Calvin and Eva in town. They were always very kind to me.
"Good morning, miss!" Calvin greeted me.
"Good morning, Calvin. And call me Lisy," I replied, trying to sound casual.
"Well, it must be about seven o'clock now. At this time, Will is usually in the stable."
"Oh... And where is the stable?"
Calvin pointed in a direction with a slight smile:
"Just follow that way, miss... I mean, Lisy."
I thanked him and went on my way.
Will's property was immense, something Cielo had already commented on. As I walked, I smelled the fresh earth, the sound of birds... Finally, I spotted the stable, an imposing building, with the name "O'Connor" painted at the entrance.
I entered and was enchanted. The horses were magnificent, with shiny coats, some brown, others as black as night. I walked carefully to a stall, where a horse moved, making a sound that startled me for a moment.
"Once again, animals scaring me," I thought, laughing softly at the irony.
I approached the animal, which had a coat as dark as a starless sky. He was docile and let me stroke his head.
"Hi, friend. What's your name, huh?"
I noticed a plaque with the name "Diamond." I smiled.
"You are a true black diamond. Beautiful, just like your owner."
My voice came out low, but the weight of the words resonated in my heart. After a while, I headed towards the stable exit.
That's when I saw him.
Will was in a fenced paddock, training a brown horse with white paws. The golden mane and tail shone in the sun. He held the reins, making the animal run in circles.
I leaned against the stable door, unable to look away.
Will was shirtless, wearing only light jeans, torn at one knee, and boots. His hair fell disorderly over his face with every movement, and his tanned skin glowed with sweat.
"Hot," I thought, unable to control the heat that rose to my face.
He smiled at the horse, talking to it, caressing it gently. At one point, he rested his forehead on the animal and whispered something I couldn't hear.
Suddenly, Will looked up and saw me.
For a moment, he stopped, watching me in silence, and then returned his attention to the horse. My heart raced. It was as if a magnet was pulling me closer to him.
I decided to approach. I sat on the fence and watched as he trained. With every look he gave me, I felt the weight of the words that needed to be said.
When he finished, he got off the horse and walked to the exit of the paddock. He saw me coming towards him, but remained impassive.
"Your horses are beautiful, Will. All of them, by the way."
He gave me an indifferent look, but his eyes went down to my legs, making me uncomfortable.
"What are you doing here?"
I tried to answer, but my voice hesitated. No matter how much I wanted to look confident, near him I was just nerves.
William put on a white shirt and looked at me waiting for me to speak.
"I came to see you... Talk to you," I murmured.
"About what?"
"About us."
Will let out a dry laugh, shaking his head.
"There is no 'us', Heloyse."
The words were like a slap. Still, I took a deep breath.
"Even so, we need to talk."
"And I already said I hate being interrupted at work. It seems you're specializing in that."
Before I could retort, he turned his back and started walking.
"Wait!" I shouted, running after him. "I'm not leaving without talking."
Will stopped abruptly and turned to me.
"Then speak. But be brief."
He turned and continued walking.
"Can we talk somewhere?" I asked.
"I'm going for coffee. If you want to talk, you'll have to come with me."
I followed him to the main house, where Eva greeted us. She offered me coffee, but I politely declined.
We waited in silence until she returned with coffee, and even with my refusal, she brought me a glass of orange juice, which I politely accepted, but didn't drink.
"Your house is very beautiful."
He simply ignored me.
Will served himself and sat in an armchair, crossing his legs and leaning back in the chair. He gestured for me to sit on the sofa in front of him.
"Come on, Heloyse. Say what you have to say."
I crossed my arms, trying to find the right words.
"Why do you act like this?" I asked, finally.
"Act like what?"
"Like you like me and hate me at the same time."
He gave a cynical smile and leaned back in the chair.
"I don't hate you. But for me, we're strangers. I rushed with you and that was a mistake. Believe me, for our own good, it's better we remain strangers."
"You don't seem to think so when you kiss me."
Will raised an eyebrow and leaned forward.
"Do you really believe a kiss changes anything? That it means anything beyond attraction?" He gave a dry laugh. "Don't fantasize, Lisy."
I felt the pain of his words like a blow.
"I'm not fantasizing anything, William."
"Aren't you? You came here, thinking you could have some deep conversation, hoping I understand how I messed with you." He stood up, looking down at me. "I'm sorry, but what happened is attraction, nothing more. I can feel that for any beautiful woman."
Anger burned in my chest.
"I shouldn't have come," I said as I stood up.
He grabbed my arm and we stared at each other, but in seconds he broke the silence.
"You deluded yourself thinking that a kiss, a caress, has a greater meaning than it really is. Carnal relations don't need to have feelings involved. As I said, any beautiful woman can awaken that in me."
I took a deep breath, my heart pounding fast.
"You talk as if I'm in love with you," I smiled with disgust. "You're not as special as you think," he narrowed his eyes but said nothing, "so get off that pedestal. You're just a sad man," I continued, my voice firm. "Because if all you can see in a woman is what she can offer you physically, you'll never have anything real."
I pulled my arm away, tried to walk, and again he grabbed me, making me look into his eyes.
"And what is true for you, Heloyse? If I had laid you down on that grass, torn off your clothes, and taken you like just another one, would you be frustrated now, or would you be satisfied? Is that what you call truth? Pretending you didn't desire something so superficial, so momentary, just because it hurts to admit it now? What's worse, Heloyse? Calling me sad or accepting that you're emotionally so fragile that you clung to something that would mean nothing?"
I was breathing fast, an anger burning inside me consuming me.
"Do you know what you need?" I asked, pulling my arm away.
"What?" he asked, frowning.
"Stop being as bitter as your coffee. A little sweet might solve it."
Then, I leaned in, grabbed the juice glass, and poured the liquid on his face. I didn't wait for his reaction, I just ran.
Before I reached the truck, Will was so close that in a matter of seconds he grabbed me. I felt my back freeze against the cold metal, and a scream escaped me—not from pain, but from pure shock.
He held my wrists firmly, and no matter how much I struggled, it was useless. His eyes burned, a mix of anger and something I couldn't decipher.
"Let me go, you bastard, son of a..."
"Don't you dare finish that sentence," his voice was low, full of threat. "I won't allow you to insult me."
"And I won't allow you to treat me like just anyone!" I shouted, my voice full of indignation. "You humiliated me at that damn party, called me a prostitute in front of everyone, and now you insinuate that I'm throwing myself at you? You're a hypocrite, Will. A damn bipolar who kisses me one moment and hates me the next!"
"If I'm such a bastard," he retorted, his voice getting deeper, "then it's only natural that my actions reflect exactly that, don't you think?"
"I didn't come for this. I came to say that yesterday was the last time you kissed me, Will. Because I won't be your fling, much less someone you use to feed your arrogance. I'm not one of the women who throw themselves at your feet, and I won't allow you to see me as such. And now, let me go before you really hurt me."
My voice trembled, but my determination was clear. Despite this, I tried to break free, pulling my arms forcefully. It was useless. His strength surpassed mine effortlessly.
Will leaned closer, and his voice came low, almost a whisper, but full of something dark that sent shivers down my spine.
"I can hurt you in so many ways, Heloyse. You have no idea."
A chill ran through my body. It was fear, yes. But it was also the feeling of being in front of something broken, something dangerous, that he himself seemed to fear.
"Let the girl go, Will."
Calvin's voice sounded behind him, firm but controlled, trying to bring some calm to the situation. He placed his hand on Will's shoulder carefully, as if trying to appease a beast on the verge of losing control.
I breathed a sigh of relief when I realized Calvin was there.
"What are you afraid of, Calvin?" Will murmured, without even looking at him. "Of proving that I'm exactly what everyone says I am? A damn reflection of him?"
"You're not like him. But she doesn't know that. You're scaring her, Will," Calvin kept his tone calm but firm. "I know you want to push her away, but not like this. Don't show her something you're not."
Will kept staring at me, his eyes dark as a storm. After long seconds, he finally released my wrists.
He took a step back, but not before giving me one last look. A look full of hurt, anger, and something deeper that he would never admit.
"I could hurt her, Calvin. In so many ways you can't even imagine," his voice was low, almost a whisper that weighed in the air.
"You could," Calvin replied, calmly, "but that wouldn't be you."
Will was silent for a moment, before shaking his head with a bitter smile.
"Years go by, and you keep seeing something good where there's nothing. For the last time, don't put your trust in me."
"I can't help it, Will. You're important to me, son."
Will turned to him, and for the first time, his expression revealed something beyond anger. There was pain there. A pain he seemed to have carried for years, buried deep, but still so present.
"I'm not your son, Mr. Mitchell."
Without another word, he left. His steps were determined, but his silence seemed to weigh in the air. Calvin stood still, watching him walk away, a sad and tired look on his face.
I watched him, my arms still trembling from what had just happened. And, at that moment, I realized that Will's scars went far beyond what he showed. And, somehow, they consumed him inside, pushing him away from anything that could heal him.