Shattered Asylum

Chapter 52

Warning: mature content

Listen to this while reading<3

Grayson blindfolds me with a shirt, his touch gentle but deliberate as he leads me through his house.

I hear the creak of a door opening, and a cold breeze brushes my face. "Watch you step," he murmurs, steadying me as we descend three small steps.

The earthy crunch of leaves underfoot and the faint scent of roses in the air make my heart race with anticipation.

I know he's taking me to the backyard, but the mystery of what awaits makes every step feel like an eternity.

"Okay, we're here," he says, his voice tinged with excitement. Slowly, he removes the blindfold.

I blink, adjusting to the light, and gasp.

Before me is a breathtaking scene. The sun dips behind the mountains, painting the sky in hues of gold and pink, while strings of fairy lights twinkle like stars overhead.

A pathway of rose petals winds its way to a charming shed adorned with more lights and flickering candles, casting a warm, inviting glow.

"Grayson, this is... wow," I whisper, at a loss for words to describe the sheer beauty surrounding me.

He smiles, his hand finding mine as he leads me down the rose-petal path. "I wanted to create something special," he says softly, his voice filled with pride and a hint of nervousness. "Just for you."

We step inside the shed, and my breath catches in my throat. The cozy space feels like a dream come to life.

Plush bedding, layered with soft pillows and fuzzy blankets, invites us to sink in and stay a while.

"I can't believe you did all of this," I say, my voice filled with disbelief and awe. Sitting down, I feel like I've stepped into one of the fairy tales my dad used to read to me as a child.

Grayson settles beside me, his hands gently cradling mine. His eyes lock onto mine, their intensity making me squirm under his gaze, not from discomfort, but from the overwhelming depth of emotion I see in them.

"Aven," he begins, his voice steady but heartfelt. "I have never met anyone like you. Your kindness knows no bounds, and your compassion touches the hearts of everyone fortunate enough to know you. You see the best in people, even when they don't deserve it."

I swallow hard, my cheeks burning as his words sink in.

"You're laugh," he continues, a small, almost reverent smile playing on his lips."Fuck, your laugh is like music to my soul. It's infectious, and it makes every moment brighter. When I hear it, everything else... my doubts, my worries, they all fade away."

I can't help but smile, my cheeks hurting from the intensity of it.

"And your strength," he says, his voice thick with emotion. "It's out of this world. I've never met anyone as strong as you. You inspire me to be better, to strive for more, to never lose sight of what truly matters. And the way you lose yourself in books or art, it's like you illuminate everything you touch."

Tears sting the back of my eyes as his words wrap around my heart.

"You bring so much beauty and meaning to life, Aven. And that's just the beginning of why..." His voice falters for a moment before he finishes. "Why I'm in love with you."

A tear slips down my cheek as the weight of his confession settles over me. I giggle through my tears and throw my arms around his neck, pulling him into a passionate kiss.