SPECIES- Marcus

WE FEAR ONLY WHAT WE LOVE - LEO TOLSTOY

Sabrina sat on the couch, in a semi-reclined position, slowly sipping tea and staring blankly ahead.

"Are you okay?" Anna asked, her voice tinged with concern.

The question barely registered with Sabrina. She was lost in thought.

"Sabrina?"

"Hm...," she looked at Anna, puzzled.

"I'm asking if you're okay?"

"I'm fine," she sighed. "Sabrina...," Anna reached out and took her hand.

"What you went through was a very traumatic experience. I know firsthand. If you need to talk, I'm here."

"How did you manage to get through it?" she asked softly.

"Thanks to Gabriel," she smiled gently. "The kidnapping, in a way, had a therapeutic effect on me. For the first time, I really stood up for myself, and in the end, I found Gabriel. Or..." she paused for a moment, "he found me."

"You found each other," Sabrina said calmly.

"Yes." A moment of silence.

"You should talk to Marcus," Anna began. "He should explain..."

"He did," Sabrina replied decisively.

"And?" She sighed heavily.

"I'm not ready," she glanced at the teacup in her hands. "I need time."

"Did you explain that to him?" Anna asked. Sabrina nodded.

"And what did he say to that?"

"He said..." she hesitated, "that he'll wait for me forever. That there's no one else for him."

"And for you?" Anna asked, her eyes filled with compassion.

Sabrina looked at Anna with tear-filled eyes. "What do you think?"

"It doesn't matter what I think; what matters is what you feel," Anna replied gently.

"I need time and space," she repeated.

"When one loves, neither absence nor time means anything," Anna quoted Charles Dickens.

Sabrina just smiled softly. "You know, I've never had time just for myself. For years, I was Roman's obsession, I ran away from him, and then Lucien came. I can't put Marcus in the same category as them, but before he saved me, he hurt me. Maybe that kiss didn't mean anything to him, but it meant everything to me. He destroyed everything," she looked sadly at Anna.

"Give yourself time, but don't give up on him. He's your other half."

"I know, that's why it hurts even more."

"I understand," Anna nodded.

"So, what's your plan for now?"

"I don't have any plan."

"If you still want to stay home and watch movies, that's fine too, but the weather is beautiful, and I think you should go out. After being cooped up at home for five days, it's time to see some sun." Sabrina looked at Anna, surprised.

"You know what? You're right," she got up from the couch. "I want to get back my natural hair color!" she exclaimed with a smile on her face.

"I've been hiding for too long."

"Great!" Anna laughed. Her phone rang. "But please, take a shower and get out of that stinky pajama. Later, we're going out for drinks. Amanda just sent me a message."

Sabrina looked at her reflection in the mirror, surprised.

"You look beautiful," Anna told her.

"And strange," Sabrina added.