Diana Hargrove has gone through enough tragedy for three lifetimes, yet she still has an affirming smile on her face. She's lived and travelled all over the world, but the last straw that broke the camel's back, brought her back to her hometown, Cre...
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𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘺-𝘧𝘪𝘷𝘦 | 𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴
My eyes fluttered open like the most disgraceful being on earth. Crust nearly sealed my eyes shut, but I tried to blink them away. Yesterday's makeup is smudged and crusted to my face. I couldn't rub it away because one of my arms was underneath something, and my other hand was being held.
Held. I was being held.
Sometimes when I wake up, I have a split second belief that Devyn and my dad are still alive. It doesn't sink in until I'm fully awake that the two of them are dead, and there's nothing I can do to change that.
When Devyn first passed away, my dad told me to hold onto that belief for as long as I could. After my dad died, I struggled to believe enough for the two of them.
Now, instead of forgetting the events of last night, my morning brain couldn't comprehend if the events last night even happened. Maybe if I keep my eyes closed, then maybe I can keep last night close to my heart.
Small puffs of air brushed against my forehead. They also blew against my eyelashes.
"Morning, Speedy," a voice murmured.
In a second, I was more awake than I ever could've been. I lifted my head off the pillow and rapidly blinked the sleep from my eyes.
Once my vision fully cleared, I saw Jayden's half sleeping form was beside me. Our fingers were interlocked on top of his chest. My other hand was covered by the back of his neck.
"How long have you been awake?" Jayden asked, whispering in my ear.
"Not long. I woke up disoriented."
"Disoriented?"
I pushed my chin into my chest making sure Jayden can't see my mouth moving. The disgusting smell of my breath is probably enough to make Jayden break up with me after twelve hours of being together.
"Yeah. I thought I was in my room, and it took me a second to remember I'm not."
As Jayden turned on his side, he cupped the underside of my jaw and attempted to bring our lips together. My heart skipped a beat at the almost contact, but I quickly diverted my head in the opposite direction.
"What's wrong?"
Nothing.
Nothing on Earth is wrong right now.
I know I have a long way to go before my brain feels as okay as my heart.
However, waking up in Jayden's arms may be the greatest thing I've ever been able to experience.
"Morning breath," I muttered, nearly burying my face in the pillow. "I need to find a toothbrush and take a second to think."
