that august night - c.l.

22. They are my favorite lie

Her tears crossed the borders and spilled down her cheeks as her quiet sobs turned into louder ones. Her knees felt weak. She fell down but not before Charles' already steady grip on her, caught her before she hit the floor. His arms tightened around her, bringing her up to his chest. He worked quickly taking her to a couch in their living room.

He couldn't care less about how she looked or sounded at the moment. He was worried about how she felt. He knew she would hate herself because he was there to witness it all. Although his main priority was getting her to know that he didn't care about it, as much as he cared about her well-being.

"Charles, I am so sorry." - She apologized countless times through sobs, only this time he understood what she actually said. "Shh, it's okay. Don't worry about that. Please, don't put the blame on yourself." - He tried convincing her as she tugged on his shirt while he held her close, making circular motions with his hand over her back.

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry." - She kept on repeating as he convinced her there was nothing she should apologize about. "Elena, I want you to understand that there is no border I wouldn't cross for you. There is not a single person I wouldn't stand against if they did harm to you. But please don't bring the harm to you, yourself. I cannot help myself but not feel awful for not being able to help you, Elena." - He talked as her sobs died down but tears were still spilling down her cheeks.

"Charles, through many years I've heard many lies." - She started but he cut her off. "It is not a lie." - He corrected as she stayed silent, as her eyes told him that was not what she was trying to say. "I've heard many lies. And many people were torn apart because they trusted me or have been close to me. I don't want the same thing to happen to you just because you haven't been warned. So I am warning you now. With me, comes a lot of baggage. A lot of things I have been keeping to myself and they may come out some day. I just don't want you to get hurt by them, because there is nothing in this world I love more than the way you are. Even more than my own self." - Elena had her hands on his cheeks while speaking through her watery eyes. He had spark under the lights as he was on the edge of letting a tear down himself.

No girl has made him feel comfortable enough to cry in front of her. And not because of her own problems but because he has realized she is the person he would want around forever and ever more.

"You go down, I go down with you. I make progress, we make progress together. I cannot tell you how much I love the way you are, too." - His hands removed single strand of hair that has been blocking her eyesight when it feel out of her hairclip.

She smiled as her eyes got teary up once more. Elena's grip almost crushed the air out of him as her hands wrapped around his body in a hug. But he couldn't think of a better way to die.

"And even if your words were a lie... they are my favorite lie." - She whispered in his ear as they held onto each other like time of letting go will come sooner than expected and they didn't want to face it.

...

The day at work is already boring, Elena thought. This morning she said her last goodbye to Charles before he went away to Nice on his way to Canada for a race. Elena was going through some e mails and paper work on her desk, but nothing could seem to get her attention away from yesterday's incident at home. And the words Charles had said. Whole night she has been sleepless about it and now it's affecting her work.

Ashley came in this morning showing her the video of how her son got excited over Ferrari shirt and a cap. The kid was jumping around, screaming out of happiness and hugging his parents. Elena asked her to send her this video and she did which Elena immediately sent to Charles. But he didn't respond as he was in the plane currently and he'll probably see it once he lands as he promised he would call her.