YOU ARE WHAT I NEED [COMPLETED]

19

"I... I need some space," I said quietly, my voice barely above a whisper. It felt like the right thing to say, even though the words tasted bitter in my mouth. "I need time to process everything."

Selene's face fell, but she nodded, understanding. "Of course," she replied, her voice steady but soft. She took a step closer, hesitating before reaching out to touch my hand. "Just know that I love you, Claire. I always have, and I hope we can get back to how we were."

Her words were a balm and a knife at the same time. I wanted to believe her, to trust that things could go back to the way they were, but the fear and confusion were too overwhelming. I nodded, unable to speak, my throat tight with emotion.

As Selene turned to leave, my mom stepped forward, her expression a mix of relief and regret. "I knew this day would come," she began, her voice trembling slightly. "I knew there would be a time when you might not accept me anymore, and I was prepared for that. But... I never stopped hoping that we could mend our relationship."

I looked at her, seeing the vulnerability in her eyes. It was rare for my mom to show such emotion, and it made me realize how much she must have struggled with her decision to leave. "I'm not... separating myself from you," I said, my voice firmer now. "I just need time to think. To understand."

My mom's eyes brightened with hope. "That means more to me than you know," she said softly. "I'll give you space too, but know that I'm here whenever you're ready to talk."

As she turned to leave, I hesitated, a question bubbling up from the depths of my confusion. "Mom," I called out, stopping her in her tracks. "What were you protecting me from?"

She paused, her back to me for a moment before turning around. Her face was serious, her eyes filled with an old pain. "There are people out there who don't like the fact that people like you and Selene exist," she explained. "They fear us, hate us... and they would hurt us if they could. I wanted to give you a peaceful life, free from those dangers. That's why I left."

Her words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. I nodded, understanding the gravity of what she was saying but still feeling lost in the sea of my own emotions. As she and Selene left the room, I felt a strange emptiness settle over me. The house felt too quiet, too big, and I realized how much I had relied on their presence, even in such a short time.

Selene's POV

The drive back to my house was a blur. The usually scenic route felt dull and lifeless, mirroring the emptiness inside me. I parked the car and walked through the front door, the familiar surroundings offering no comfort. My home, usually a sanctuary, felt cold and distant. I trudged upstairs, each step heavier than the last, and collapsed onto my bed.

I stared at the ceiling, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. Everything had been so perfect before. Claire and I had shared so many moments of joy and laughter. She had been my light in the darkness, the one person who made me feel alive. But now, with the truth out in the open, it felt like everything was falling apart.

The memory of her fear-stricken face was seared into my mind. She had looked at me like I was a stranger, someone to be feared. The thought of losing her, of never feeling her warmth and love again, was too much to bear. The tears flowed freely now, and I covered my face with my hands, sobbing quietly.

I had hoped that revealing the truth would bring us closer, but instead, it had pushed us apart. The doubt gnawed at me, the fear that she would never accept me for who I truly was. What if she could never look past the fact that I was a vampire? What if the bond we shared was shattered beyond repair?

My thoughts spiraled, the despair growing with each passing moment. I felt utterly alone, lost in a world that had once felt so full of promise. I hugged a pillow to my chest, trying to find some comfort in its softness, but it did little to ease the ache in my heart.

All I wanted was to love Claire, to protect her, to be with her. But now, that seemed like an impossible dream. The tears continued to flow, unchecked, as I curled up on the bed, my body shaking with sobs. I felt like a part of me was being ripped away, leaving a gaping wound that refused to heal.

I didn't know how long I lay there, crying into the pillow. Time seemed to stretch endlessly, the minutes blending into hours. Eventually, the tears subsided, leaving me feeling drained and hollow. I stared blankly at the wall, my mind numb with grief.

As the night stretched on, I realized that the only thing I could do was wait. Wait for Claire to come to terms with everything, to find it in her heart to accept me. It was a painful, uncertain wait, but it was all I had. And as I lay there, surrounded by the shadows of my own fears, I clung to the hope that somehow, someway, we could find our way back to each other.