delicate

67

I stared at the floor of the guest bedroom. Four nights ago was hell in a loaded gun that shot and killed me. I've lost all energy and motivation. The only thing I managed to tell them was to call Liv and tell her I'm here. I've kept myself from telling them why. It's not my place.

The knock on the door pulled me out of my head. After a few seconds, the door opened, and Stefan stepped in.

"Hey, Vale." I heard the door shut then his footsteps. "Can we talk?"

I didn't say anything. All I know is I'm tired of ending up alone and crying about it for days. I pulled myself to sit up and moved to sit back against the headboard. I pulled the pillow against my body and wrapped my arms around it. I stared at my hands as I traced the edges of my nails.

Stefan sat in front of me, keeping space between us. "Why did you stay in town?"

I thought for a minute. "I don't know."

"I do." That pulled my full attention to him. "You graduated from one of the top schools in the country, and you had first pick of whatever life you wanted, yet you chose to come back. Because you thought someone you wanted in your dream life was here. You threw away your chance at a life away from all of this to be with Kai."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"I want the best for you, Evelyn. And I'm telling you this because I love you and I want you to be happy." He put his hand on mine. "I think you should go try to find a new life that will get you out of this."

The idea felt bearable somehow. It sounded poetic, actually. Leaving to find a life that wants and accepts me rather than forcing myself into one that can't handle me. "I can't leave Caroline, or the house, or -"

"Caroline and I have talked about it. We'll move into the house and keep everything the same until you're ready to come back to it."

I felt a lump rising in my throat. The thought of getting out felt so freeing. Visions of what I could be doing danced across my mind. I moved the pillow and moved closer, wrapping my arms around him. "I'm sorry for being such a bitch to you."

He hugged me tighter. "I never took it personally."

I closed my eyes as a smile spread across my lips.

-

"What about this? Please take this!" Caroline held out the lamp toward me.

I furrowed my brows as I tilted my head, "No. I told you, I'm packing light. What would I do with a lamp?"

"Um, see?" She grabbed my hand and forced the lamp into it.

I took it from her and tossed it on the unmade, empty bed. "I'm trying to detach, Care. And it's not like I won't be back eventually. I do have family here."

"So you haven't forgotten yet?"

I turned to see Jo and Stefan holding the twins. My heart strings were being pulled to their breaking point. Saying goodbye to everyone made it feel like forever. "I could never forget you."

Caroline walked to take the baby from Jo before she walked to me. I wrapped my arms around Jo and she hugged me back, holding me tightly. "Thank you for everything, Ev."

I closed my eyes to keep my tears back. "I love you, Jo."

She laughed softly. "I love you too."

After a moment, we separated. She grabbed my hands and looked into my eyes, "Don't lose my number."

I laughed. "It'll be the last thing I forget."

She smiled. "I have to go, but I'll see you at the party."