YOU ARE WHAT I NEED [COMPLETED]

15

Claire's POV

The past few weeks had been nothing short of blissful. Every day, coming home from work to find Selene waiting for me felt like stepping into a dream. Her smile, her presence—it was all so comforting and warm. It was strange how quickly I'd grown used to the rhythm of our days together. We'd have dinner, talk about our days, and sometimes watch a movie or just sit in comfortable silence. It was simple, yet so fulfilling.

Tonight was no different. I came home, and Selene greeted me at the door with a kiss on the cheek and a mischievous smile. The air was light and playful as we chatted about our day. I could feel myself letting go, savoring the moment, just being happy. But as the evening wore on, a nagging thought started to creep in: Where was Mark?

It wasn't like I missed him. The truth was, life had been better without him around. But the sudden absence was suspicious. He said he'd be gone for a few days, yet he always came back when he said he would, if only to keep tabs on me. His prolonged absence was unsettling.

As we sat on the couch, Selene noticed the change in my mood. She gave me a curious look. "What's on your mind?" she asked, her voice gentle.

I sighed, staring at the floor. "It's just... Mark. He said he'd be back by now, but he hasn't shown up. It's unusual for him." I bit my lip, feeling a mix of anxiety and relief. "I just don't know what to think."

Selene's expression softened, and she reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. "Maybe he's just gone for a little longer than expected," she suggested, though her tone was a bit too casual. "Or maybe," she added with a teasing glint in her eye, "you want me gone and you're waiting for him to come back."

I laughed at that, shaking my head. "No, absolutely not!" I said quickly, perhaps too quickly. I blushed, feeling my cheeks heat up. "I love having you here, Selene. It's just... it's strange, that's all. I can't shake this feeling that something's off."

Before Selene could respond, there was a sudden knock on the door. We both turned to look, surprised by the interruption. I stood up, smoothing down my clothes and trying to compose myself. "I'll get it," I said, heading to the door.

As I opened it, my heart nearly stopped. There, standing on the doorstep with teary eyes and a trembling smile, was my mother, Cathy. I hadn't seen her in months. Our relationship had always been complicated, but seeing her like this, vulnerable and emotional, threw me off balance.

"Mom?" I whispered, surprised. "What are you doing here?"

She gave me a weak smile and reached out to take my hand. "Claire, sweetheart, may I come in?" Her voice wavered, and I could see the tears pooling in her eyes. "I need to talk to you."

"Of course," I murmured, stepping aside to let her in. As she walked past me, I noticed how frail she looked, her usual confidence replaced by an air of sadness. I closed the door and turned to face her, noticing that Selene had stood up from the couch, looking concerned.

As Cathy walked into the living room, her eyes landed on Selene, and for a moment, the room was filled with a heavy, tense silence. Selene's face went from confused to shocked, and then to something unreadable, almost as if she recognized my mother. Cathy, too, seemed taken aback, her eyes widening in surprise.

"Selene," Cathy said softly, a strange mixture of emotions crossing her face. "It's... been a while."

Selene's expression hardened, and she crossed her arms over her chest. "Cathy," she replied coolly, nodding in acknowledgment. There was a tension in the air that I couldn't quite place, a history between them that I had no knowledge of.

I looked between them, confusion and unease growing inside me. "You two know each other?" I asked, trying to understand what was happening.

Neither of them answered immediately, their eyes locked in an intense, silent exchange. I felt like an outsider in my own home, caught in the middle of something much bigger than I could grasp.

Finally, Selene broke the silence, her voice cold and distant. "Yes, we do." She didn't elaborate, but the way she said it sent a chill down my spine. There was something in her tone that made it clear this was not a happy reunion.