Never Thought I Could Love Again

2

In the quiet hours that followed, today became an embarrassment I couldn't escape. Dracula's kindness extended to assisting me with basic needs, from using the bathroom to bringing food. However, the pinnacle of awkwardness arrived when he offered to help me bathe. I averted my eyes, cheeks aflame, while Dracula effortlessly lifted me from the tub, his actions both gentle and disarming.

He continued to dry and dress me, breaking the silence with reassurance. "There's no need to be embarrassed, Aesira," he said. I stammered a response, "I know, but nobody has ever been so kind to me when I'm injured." A heavy sigh escaped me as I revealed, "Whenever I was unwell, my parents would get mad, expecting me to cook and clean." Dracula, now holding me in his arms, inquired about my parents. I shook my head, confessing, "They were too busy drinking and... hurting me." Tears welled up as Dracula sat us by the fireplace, cradling me. His comforting hug allowed my suppressed pain to surface. "You've never told anyone before, have you?" he asked. I struggled to hold back tears, admitting, "No, I haven't." Dracula reassured, "It's okay not to act strong all the time, Aesira."

Glancing up, I questioned if he had read my mind. He chuckled, "No, I could tell by the way you're acting." Lost in the moment, curled up on Dracula's lap, I felt an unexpected sense of tranquility. As my eyelids grew heavy, whether from the fireplace's warmth or Dracula's soothing presence, sleep enveloped me.