Bound by Shadows

30

I changed my mind. I had been avoiding meeting my brother for as long as possible, aware that it was my pride preventing me from making the first move toward reconciliation. This time, Caelus and I informed Stella that we needed to make a brief trip back to Los Angeles to retrieve some important documents from home.

To my surprise, Zavian didn't protest or offer any remarks when he heard the news. Tadashi stayed behind, with Caelus entrusting him with the tracking duties while we were away.

Once back in Los Angeles, Caelus headed to his office while I decided to take a closer look around my room which remained exactly as I had left it.

Driven by curiosity, I opened the drawers and discovered a stack of documents hidden beneath my makeup drawer. I hadn't noticed them before, so I pulled out the envelope and started reading its contents.

I frowned as I examined the contract. It was an agreement to open a flower shop, yet it remained unsigned.

"What's that?"

I gasped, startled to see Caelus standing in the doorway with his own documents in hand. "I just found some old papers. It looks like a deed to a shop I was planning to open." The more I read, the stranger it became. The contract was dated a few months after our marriage. Didn't Caelus tell me that I resigned from my previous job? And was it for this?

Caelus approached and looked over my shoulder at the document. When I glanced up at him, he appeared troubled. "We should get going. There's somewhere I want to take you," he said with a subtle smile before leaving the room. I gathered the documents and followed him.

In the garage, Caelus started up one of his classic cars, a dark blue 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL. He opened the door for me to sit in the passenger seat, and then we drove off.

The engine of the classic Mercedes purred as we pulled out of the driveway, and I couldn't help but glance at the documents I had brought with me. And another one that was hiding beneath the ones I was already holding. My mind raced with questions, but Caelus's focused expression suggested that this wasn't the time for answers.

We drove in silence, the city of Los Angeles a blur outside the window. Caelus turned onto a quieter street lined with small shops and cafes. He parked in front of a building that had potential but it was faded and rundown.

"This is it," he said softly.

I stepped out of the car and looked at the building. The sign above the door was barely legible, but it read "Bloom & Blossom." My heart sank.

Caelus walked ahead and opened the door, gesturing for me to follow. Inside, the air was stale, and dust covered the counters and shelves. The space felt abandoned, a ghost of what it could have been.

"This shop," I began, my voice trembling, "is this what I was planning to open?"

Caelus nodded, his expression pained. "Yes. You had this place ready."

"This is beautiful. I'm sure I could get the contract signed and ready once everything is resolved. Look!" I rushed over to a corner filled with vases, my excitement bubbling over. The shop, despite its neglected state, hadn't been ransacked. As I touched one of the vases, memories started flooding back. "It's... it's handmade. I made these." I marveled at the row of vases, each design unique and otherworldly.

Caelus took a deep breath. "I need to confess something," he said, his shoulders slumping as he leaned against the door. "I'm the reason this flower shop didn't come true."

I stared at him, disbelief and hurt warring within me. "What do you mean?"

"I was angry and spiteful," he admitted, his voice heavy with regret. "I couldn't see past my own resentment. I sabotaged your plans by pulling out the investors who were going to support your shop. I thought it was a way to get back at you, to hurt you the way I felt hurt especially after everything with your father."

The weight of his words hit me like a physical blow.

"You did this?" I whispered.

Caelus looked down, ashamed. "I'm so sorry. I was wrong, and I know I can't undo the damage I've caused to you so far—"

I stepped forward and pulled him into a hug, wrapping my arms around his neck. He buried his face in my shoulder, his hands clutching my waist. "It's just a shop, Caelus. It's okay."

He pulled back slightly, his eyes searching mine. "But it was your dream. I destroyed something precious to you."

"It's true, but dreams can change. We can build something new together," I said, my voice steady.

After a few moments, we began exploring the shop, taking in every corner despite its condition. In the back room, I pulled off a white sheet covering a large item and discovered a potter's wheel. Muscle memory took over as I looked around the room, knowing exactly where to find the tools I needed. Underneath a table, I found a container wrapped in plastic—inside was clay, still preserved.

"We're not rushing anywhere else, right?" I asked.

Caelus shook his head. "Why?"

I smiled, eager to dive into the familiar process. "I want to use the potter's wheel."

I unwrapped a chunk of clay, placed it on the worktable, and began slapping and kneading it to soften it. As I worked the clay, Caelus stepped forward.

"Let me help," he offered, his voice soft.

He placed his hands over mine, guiding the motions. Together, we kneaded the clay, working out the air bubbles and making it pliable. His touch was firm but gentle and intimate.

Once the clay was ready, I positioned it on the wheel and wet my hands. As the wheel began to spin, I shaped the clay with practiced movements.

My fingers pressed gently but firmly into the mound, coaxing it upward. The rhythm of the wheel, the texture of the clay, and the familiar motions of my hands created a trance-like state.

Slowly, the lump transformed, rising and widening under my touch. I worked methodically, my eyes scanning for imperfections, smoothing out ridges, and keeping the walls even. The base of the vase widened, and I began to narrow the neck, my fingers pinching delicately to form the elegant curve.

Each rotation brought the vase closer to its final form. The smooth, cool clay responded effortlessly to my touch, creating a seamless connection between my hands and the emerging vessel. The vase's graceful shape evoked a sense of harmony, and my heart swelled with pride. No missteps, no collapses—just a beautifully formed piece.

With the vase nearly complete, I carefully set it on a higher shelf. Caelus watched, cautious as always, but I insisted on handling it myself.

"Come here," I beckoned to Caelus, motioning him closer. "Stand on the opposite side," I instructed. He complied without question.

"We're going to hug, and in between us will be this pot," I said with a mischievous grin.

He raised an eyebrow. "Won't that ruin your work?"

I rolled my eyes playfully. "If anything, it'll make it perfect," I chuckled, extending my arms wide. "Come on, hug me already."

Caelus smiled warmly as we embraced, careful not to jostle the vase. For a few moments, we held each other, the vase nestled safely between us. When we finally pulled away, I turned to inspect the result.

The once-perfect vase now bore the unmistakable imprint of our hug—sides squished and distorted. I stared at it, stunned, while Caelus looked at it with concern.

I laughed, looking at his reaction. He might prefer the order of books, but I saw beauty in our messy creation. What he called questionable, I called it art.