The Everlasting Effect 💖

Chapter Six: Arawn

Dammit, just my luck!

Out of all the likely women in this forsaken city, it had to be the one that I despised more than anything. Even though my heartbeat increases for the short time that she is in my arms again. I refuse to acknowledge that she has anything to do with that feeling which reminds me.

Why is she here?

Why was she at my father's funeral out of all the places she could be in? Denara and my dad didn't have a poor relationship, but they didn't have a healthy one either, as far as I can remember. My dad would try to be nice when he was sober, but he quickly drank again.

Holding her in my arms again brings back a familiar tingle. I don't understand what's happening; it feels like my heart and mind are moving at two different paces; Only Green Bay can bring about such conflicting feelings, which is why I left. I spent years trying to forget her and almost succeeding but relapsing back; Denara was a drug that I was addicted to and couldn't get over after she left that December evening.

She's still as beautiful as I remember, if not more, Kohl's black hair that flowed over her shoulders, hazel eyes, melon sweet lips.

I stare into her hazel brown eyes; there's a sinking feeling that has settled into the pit of my stomach. It feels like I'm seeing her for the first time again. The surrounding air is almost nostalgic, and I feel confused by the novel sensation.

She lets out a small yelp when I let go of her, and her body becomes stiff. Her facial movements convey shock, and surprise written all over her features, and for a moment, it makes me want to laugh at her stupefied expression. Pushing back any feelings that surfaced and any confusing emotions lingering. I smirk at her.

"It's been a while. You're certainly the last person I expected here." I said to her, and clearly, she wasn't expecting me to talk to her.

"I guess it has been a long time. Uhm... Mason told me about your dad. I just wanted to pay my last respects."

"What are you... doing here?" I raise an eyebrow at my question, and she quickly realizes what she said. Her awkwardness shows, and she is at a loss as she stumbles over words and fidgets with her fingers.

"Right... I'm sorry about your dad. I know this must be hard for you." She mutters and although she's awkward as hell right now. I can see the genuine emotions that swirl in her hazel eyes and that she genuinely is apologetic. Her eyes pierced my own, and I shrug in response.

"I couldn't care less. I'm just here to see my brothers and to sort out whatever mess he left behind. The bastard had this coming for a long time."

It's a blatant lie and one that I know Denara sees through, and at least I'm hoping that she does. My father is a sore topic for me, and it's one of the particular reasons I left Green Bay. No matter how much hate and despise I felt for him, I guess it was never enough or that I put on a ruse to fool myself and everyone around me. At the end of all of this, I still came running back, and I guess that tells you who's the fool.

Denara looks at me with conflicted eyes. I can see that she wants to say something but wells off it and lets it go. She either wants to contradict and yell at me for old times' sake, but she's no longer in that position, nor does she scold me.

Her uncertainty and denial that are portrayed in her eyes don't show the once apparent twinkle. Almost a decade has passed, but she's even more beautiful than I can remember, fuller too, but she doesn't have the spark and life force that was so consuming once upon a time, it lured you in, and there was no returning. She was an eccentric woman, but I don't get the same vibe from her anymore; she seems mature.