The ones who live hidden in plain sight (A discovery of witches story)

Bad child (part 2)

At home, Camille gently closed the door behind her, her heart still heavy from the confrontation with her mother. There was no sign of her mother, which reassured her a little, but a wave of emotion suddenly surged through her. She collapsed gently onto the sofa, unable to hold back the tears. The after-effects of this definitive break-up overwhelmed her, and all the weight of years of tension, criticism and judgements crushed her at once.

She buried her face in her hands, letting the sobs wash over her. Everything had fallen apart today. Her ties with her mother, who had always been complicated, had just been severed for good, and even though she knew it was the right thing to do, part of her was suffering from the loss. She wept for the little girl she had been, who had so sought this woman's approval and love. She cried for the young woman she had become, who had finally had the courage to say no.

After several minutes, the tears dried up, giving way to an emptiness. Camille sat up, took a deep breath and wiped her cheeks. She felt drained, exhausted, but paradoxically lighter. She managed to sleep for a few hours, before waking up and telling Andrew. She had insisted that he finish his day at school. She needed this time alone to recover. She knew he would understand.

The rest of the afternoon passed slowly. Camille lay on the sofa in a mixture of tiredness and reflection. She distractedly stroked her stomach, concentrating on her daughter's little movements. These moments alone allowed her to reorganise her thoughts. This little life she was carrying gave her all the courage she needed to face the future.

Her phone buzzed, breaking the silence in the flat. A message from Andrew appeared on the screen:

'I've just finished. How have you been? Do you want me to come ?'

Camille smiled slightly at the message. Andrew was still there, ready to help her. She quickly typed a reply, agreeing. He'll be there in ten minutes.

She sighed with relief, knowing that his presence would do her good. Ten minutes was nothing, but it gave her just enough time to try and compose herself before he arrived.

She got up and went into the bathroom to freshen up, splashing cold water on her face. In the mirror, she noticed her slightly reddened eyes, but she didn't care. She moved back into the living room, trying to find some peace and quiet before he arrived.

A few light knocks sounded at the door. Camille got up to open the door, and when she saw Andrew on the threshold, a wave of comfort swept over her instantly. He said nothing at first, just looked at her with immense gentleness in his eyes. Without a word, he drew her gently into his arms.

- How do you feel?' he finally asked, his voice low and full of concern as she sat up.

She said nothing, crying again. Andrew took her in his arms again and she cried. They stood there for a moment, silent, time suspended, before Camille broke away.

- I've cut everything, Andrew. It's the right decision, but...

Andrew looked at her with silent understanding, shaking his head.

- It was the right thing to do. You deserve better. You deserve peace.

- My head knows it, but I still can't believe I did it,' she murmured, feeling the tears welling up again.

- That's normal,' he said softly. You've just done something huge, something brave. You chose to protect yourself and Celeste. It will take time for it all to make sense, but you're not alone.

- I know I'm not. Thank you for always being there.

They remained in silence for a moment, simply there for each other.

- Are you hungry?' he said after a moment. I'll make you something to eat or can we order what you want? You need to regain your strength.

¬- Your tomato soup and some of your chicken. I've got some in the fridge.

- I'll take care of everything.

He got up and headed for the kitchen, leaving her on the sofa. She watched him get busy, feeling a wave of gratitude. Andrew had this way of always being there, just present, calm and comforting. She knew she'd have trouble getting through all this without him. Since their agreement, she had never felt lonely. He was always there, doing whatever was needed.

Their friendship had grown stronger over the months.This unwavering support, this constant presence, had allowed her to really feel that they were a team.

The soothing smell of hot soup filled the flat. Andrew spoke in a soft voice as he prepared the meal, telling an amusing anecdote about his students, hoping to make Camille smile. And it worked, a slight smile forming on his lips in spite of everything.

- I think Celeste already has a taste for good food,' he joked, placing a bowl in front of her. She's going to grow up with a dad who cooks her delicious food.

Camille smiled a little wider, a gentle warmth washing over her.

- She'll certainly be well fed with you,' she replied, her voice still weak but tinged with tenderness. Thank you for this. You're the best.

- Andrew shook his head with a modest smile. A pleasure to do it. He smiled, sitting down beside her, taking his bowl, smoking.

They ate in silence, interspersed with a few light conversations.

Andrew continued to reassure her without even realising it, simply talking about the future with their baby, about everything they were going to share.Every word about Celeste warmed Camille's heart.

They stayed in the living room for a while, talking about Celeste's room and the preparations for her arrival. Andrew spoke excitedly, his enthusiasm infectious. Gradually, Camille felt a weight lift from her.Even though the day's ordeal had been hard, she felt that it all made sense.

- I don't know what I'd do without you, she murmured.

- You never have to know,' he replied. You, me and Celeste. Our own family.

After a moment's thought, Andrew suggested they play a board game they had found on a recent outing. Camille accepted with a smile.

They set the game up on the table, laughing and joking at the same time. The rules were simple, but the challenge of the game and the little competitions they threw themselves made them forget the worries of everyday life. Camille's light, sincere laughter echoed around the room, bringing a welcome relief.

Minutes passed as they challenged each other and celebrated their small victories. Camille felt lighter and lighter, the warmth of the moment reminding her that despite the difficulties, there were still simple moments of happiness to cherish. The game ended with Andrew winning, and it was late. Andrew left, promising to check in tomorrow.