Tangled Hearts.

~Chapter 3~

~Raelyn~

~September 6, 2021~

The next morning, Mom had hired a moving crew to help pack up the rest of our things. All day, I watched as they carefully handled my clothes and a few of Blake's belongings. The house that had always been our home was slowly being emptied, and it felt like pieces of my heart were being taken away with each box.

Mom handed me a silk cyan blue gown with a hood, the moon above glistening its silk fabric. "I want you to have this, Raelyn. Something to remember me by," she said, her voice breaking.

I hugged her tightly, the fabric soft against my cheek. "Thank you," I sobbed into her shoulder.
~
Doing what i was dreading was the hardest part of it all, having to say goodbye. I didn't want to leave them. They've been my rock all my life, and now I was leaving them behind in my hometown.

"Mom, please, I have to stay...i need to be here for you and Isa. And Lacey. " I said crying.

"Darling we'll be just fine. You have to go; you'll miss your flight." Mom said hugging me. She let a small tear escape from her eye as she took me in her grasp.

She knew she had to be strong for me, I could tell she was struggling a lot. She released from the hug and put her hand on my shoulders.

"Go on Raelyn, you'll be fine. I love you." I looked over at Isa as she had tears rolling out of her eyes.

I rushed over to her and hugged her tightly. "Oh Isa, I'm so sorry."

"Me too Raelyn, I'm gonna miss you so much". She cried lightly into my shoulder,

"It's gonna be ok, you can come visit me whenever you want." Isa sniffled.

"I will," she sighed sadly. "You should get on the plane."

"Ok, I love you."

"I love you too, dork." She said as I released from the hug.

I held on tight to Blake's hand and aborted on the plane. I looked back at mom and Isa one last time before the doors shut; The wind blew in her red brown hair as she looked at us for one final time. I sighed as the doors shut.

The flight attendant guided us over to the seats on the jet. I sat down and just looked down at the ground. Blake sat next to me. "Raelyn..."? Blake asked sadly.

I was despondent. I said nothing. Not a word. Blake sighed sadly at me. This is just as hard for him as it is for me. It would be a fresh start for us, it just didn't feel like that at the moment. I let one single tear slip from my eye and hit the floor beneath me.

Collette came over to me, "Raelyn, may I bring you anything m'lady"? I shook my head. "No thank you, Collette."

She sighed sadly and nodded. "Let me know if you need anything miss." She made her way to the piolet area as the jet took off.

It felt like an eternity waiting for that flight to be over. I never moved; I never said a word to anybody.

~September 7th~

The car pulled to a stop in front of a small, unassuming house. Los Angeles, a world away from the bustling streets of London, felt alien and isolated. Stepping out, I cradled Blake close, his tiny frame trembling slightly.

"This is our new home," I whispered, forcing a smile.

"Is it...? Where's Athena? Where's Isa?" His big blue eyes searched mine, welling up with tears.

A lump formed in my throat. "They...they couldn't come, Blake. But it'll just be you and me, okay? We'll take care of each other."

He sniffled, burying his face in my neck.

Inside, the house felt empty, echoing with an unsettling silence. The furniture was sparse, a stark contrast to the warmth of our London flat.

Blake clutched my hand tightly as we walked through the rooms, his small hand dwarfed by mine.

"It's different," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

"It is," I agreed, my voice thick with emotion. "But we can make it cozy. Maybe you can pick out some fairy lights, like the ones in your old room?"

A flicker of light returned to his eyes. "Fairy lights?"

"Uh-huh. And maybe some plushies? To keep the monsters away at night?"

He giggled, a fragile sound. "Monsters?"

"Only the silly ones," I said, squeezing his hand. "The kind that disappear with a little love."

We unpacked our meager belongings, the silence punctuated by the clinking of hangers and the rustle of clothes. As I hung up a well-worn teddy bear, a choked sob escaped my lips.

"Are you crying, mom?" Blake's voice was small, laced with concern.

I quickly wiped away my tears. "Just a bit of dust baby, I'm fine." I lied, forcing a smile. "This old place is full of surprises."

He tilted his head, his gaze filled with unnerving wisdom. "Is it because we left your mom, Isa, and Lacey?"

"A little," I admitted, pulling him into a hug. "But it's also because things are changing, Blake. And change can be scary, even exciting."

He nestled into my embrace, his tiny body radiating a vulnerability that tore at my heart. In that moment, I knew I wasn't just his protector; I was his entire world. And I would move heaven and earth to keep him safe, even if it meant facing the shadows alone.