Can't you feel my heart beating? (Gabenath)

Chapter 7

Gabriel's fingertips delicately touch the onesie laid on the bed as his eyes slowly glisten with tears.

The memories of his wife with their baby boy was all he had left, and the bitterness of their departure always tasted stronger on the anniversary of their deaths.
The pain in his chest was greater this time around and he thinks that not enough years can pass to heal the broken pieces of his heart.

He lets his tears wet his face as he mourns for their loss, almost feeling it like the first day. He won't ever stop crying for them because he knows the ache in his heart is everlasting.

———

The knock on the door startles him for a few moments, but he doesn't make any attempt to answer. He knows who's behind that door, but he doesn't want to speak to anybody, he just wants to be left alone.
But there's a second knock on his door, and suddenly her voice enters his ears.
"Gabriel?" He hears her calling, "Are you in there... Are you okay?" She asks with concern.
Gabriel can't help but grimace at the sound of her voice as the familiar feeling of distaste begins to take over.
"What do you want?" He replies with great bitterness, "Go away, I don't need you here..."

"I'm sorry," she says in a soft voice, "but I'm worried for you, you've been locked away in your room all day and," she quiets for a few moments, as if trying to find the correct words to express her concern for him.
"Gabriel..." she suddenly says, "I know this is hard for you..."
Nathalie tries to continue but his sudden holler frightens her and silences her immediately.
"Be quiet!" He screams cruelly, "You don't know anything and you'll never understand the pain I feel every day, now go away, and leave me alone!"

Nathalie leaves as soon as she hears his harsh words, she doesn't want to be subject to any mistreatments.
She goes into her bedroom, grabbing her bag and coat ready to leave the mansion. If Gabriel doesn't want to speak to her, Nathalie will give him the space he desires.

She walks out through the large doors, trying so hard to ignore the sting Gabriel's tough words caused to her heart.

———

There's a nice and friendly ambience to the little coffee shop she's in.
It was the only place she could think of going to the moment she stepped out of the house.

She stirs the spoon inside her mug in continuous circles. Her appetite is nonexistent and the smell of the coffee almost makes her feel nauseous, but she makes no attempt to push the cup away. Her mind is completely lost in thought as she reflects on her marriage with Gabriel.

Everything that has occurred in the last couple of months is something she never imagined.
She'd thought that marrying Gabriel Agreste was the wildest thing she had ever done, but after sleeping with him that action is far too short.

How she ever landed herself in that situation... she isn't sure. All she knows is that when Gabriel kisses her all his words and her doubts are erased and all her mind is able to think about is him.

They've continued this cycle of sleeping together for months now, and it's something they never speak about. Her logical part screams at her daily, telling her that it's a mistake, but she always seems to be able to ignore it when they're together.

She knows it's a mistake because their marriage is nothing but an act of convenience, reminding her every day that one day she'll have to leave his side.

Nathalie feels like crying every time she remembers because she's really learned to care for him, and her heart has unexpectedly developed a deep feeling for him that she's been trying so hard to ignore. But she realizes that every second that passes that feeling only seems to grow stronger.