𝗨𝗟𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗘 | 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐰 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝

𝟑: 𝟏𝟑 𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐒

"𝑰𝒕 𝒉𝒖𝒓𝒕𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝑰 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑰𝒕'𝒔 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝑰 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍."

♛

Dahlia stood at the threshold of Evan Darkwood's flat. He opened the door, his hair a mess and his shirt awry. There were piles of boxes behind him and the light of the room was dim. A smile broke over his face when he saw Dahlia.

"Hello, love." He pulled her in for a hug, Dahlia startled before laughing.

"Hello, Evan. I missed you, and it looks like I will keep missing you."

"I suppose so. I truly wish I could stay, but London is getting quite drab. I wish you the best, lovely, with your child and your husband. I assure you I no longer want to kill him." He said.

Dahlia smiled, leaning away from the hug and looking up at him, "I am disappointed you will not be there to see the baby. But I understand, I wish you the best on your travels. I came to give you this, that's all."

Dahlia handed him a small black box. Ariadne, who had been standing silently beside her, spoke up, "You best like it. She spent a lot of time on it."

Evan turned his bright smile on Dahlia's sister, "I love everything she does."

Dahlia's heart hurt. There was a time when she could have seen herself in love with Evan. He was a presence Dahlia could love for the rest of her life, even if her romantic love runs out, her love for him as a being never would. The Greeks had seven categories of love but even those words did not explain the kind of love Evan and Dahlia had, so she used the word closest to it.

Agape. What they had was agape, an unconditional, true kind of love.

Evan opened the box to reveal a small book with letters Dahlia had written him over the years but had never sent it. There was a flower pressed against each page that represented the emotion of each letter.

There had been a million things she had wanted to say to him over the years, but she had decided to just let him live. While it wasn't the end, she did not think she would be seeing too much of her beloved friend from now on. It was a feeling she did not like, but such was life.

He looked at Dahlia, "I love you, Dahlia. Never forget that." The way he said it made Dahlia realize that he had the feeling too. They wouldn't be contacting each other much from here on out. It wasn't goodbye, but it was so close to it that it hurt.

"I love you too, Evan." Dahlia pulled away.

Ariadne stepped forward and held out her hand, "Thank you, Evan, for everything. You have shown us the most kindness. A brother I never had."

Evan shook his head, "Never thank me, Ari."

"Goodbye, Ev." Dahlia said, stepping out of his flat and into the snow. Evan only smiled sadly.

Dahlia and Ariande walked away hand in hand, they got separate carriages. Dahlia's to her flat and Ariadne's to Anna's flat.

As Dahlia walked to her door she noticed a set of carnations at the doorstep with a note. She picked them up and closed the door behind her. She started the fireplace for some heat and took off her coat.

She sat on the futon, a blanket over her legs and opened the note.

Dahlia,

As I said earlier, I wish to make small steps to achieving my forgiveness. These flowers better hot have wilted while you were away or I shall have a word with the flower keeper.