Daylight

17 | Forgiven

The world seemed to spin endlessly around her as her eyes fluttered open, eyelids still heavy. Her blue ice regaining its color back. The sunlight peeking through the closed curtain from the window across the room earned a small groan from her once it stung her eyes.

Her whole body ached in different places but none of that compared to the aching dread in her chest. Not to mention, the throbbing headache she had.

It took a few minutes of staring at the ceiling before she remembered yesterday's events. Ella was in town, the same Ella that was her past stepdaughter, and with her husband, the king. Caroline met Ella and then everything went downhill in her mind with her spiraling thoughts.

She can lose everything again at anytime.

It may be hard to admit but her life now was very vulnerable, she held no power in this place, in the town, she and her daughters were just commoners here, just like the rest of the townspeople.

The thought of leaving and being casted out again made her skin crawl, those townpeople would certainly cast her out if they knew what she did.

And she didn't want to leave. Not yet, anyway.

Then it entered her mind; the thought of leaving Caroline. The thought of Caroline finding out about what she did, finding out about her lies, and the reaction she might have, the feelings she will feel.

With a sigh, Madonna rolled to her side, the sight sucking a small amount of air out of her. On the other side of the bed was Caroline, fast asleep, softly snoring with hands safely tucked under her face, blanket covering her whole body.

Her brown hair fell onto her face but was laid perfectly on the soft pillow under her head, chest falling and rising calmly. She looked almost ethereally beautiful, like an angel. She had the most beautiful curled eyelashes, most beautiful nose and the softest lips Madonna has ever touched. It was amazing how soft her lips were but they still managed to leave burning imprints on her skin. It was amazing how innocent and angel-like she looked, at how peaceful she was, of how innocent and happy she was but vulnerable and soft, and sometimes not-so-innocent, wild and carefree at the same time.

She loved waking up every morning to see Caroline beside her, she liked watching her sleep, how she scrunched her nose unconsciously at times where Madonna assumed she was dreaming of something, how she slightly snores but that never bothered Madonna, and how warm she was.

Not just her personality but everything about her.

She didn't want to lose that.

Her blood ran cold at the realization; she didn't want to lose Caroline, she didn't want to leave her. And it terrified her, it terrified her a lot.

This thing between them started out of impulse, out of their lack of patience and self-control, perhaps also because they were both really attractive middle-aged women that drove each other crazy every single day.

With trembling hands, Madonna gently and slowly brushed the loose strand of hair across Caroline's face, tucking it behind her ear. The brunette stirred in her sleep, knitting her eyebrows as she forced herself to open one eye "...Donna?"

Pushing the fear into the deepest depths of her stomach like she always does, Madonna softly smiled "Hello, Caroline." she whispered.

"You're awake..." Caroline yawned, blinking several times before her gaze fixed on the redhead's face, studying her features.

Madonna shrugged "So are you."

Caroline hummed, resting her forehead against Madonna's shoulder while her fingers came to brush against the warm skin on the redhead's chest, tracing her collarbones "You fainted." she murmured "On me yesterday." she added.