REKINDLED || Completed

13

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Thirteen
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Author: Another emotional chapter guys, brace yourselves! Happy reading!

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Asher smudged another streak of pink before setting down her brush.

She stared at what had become of her canvas. It had taken so much effort, yet yielded nothing.

Far from soothed by the piece, she barely even understood it.

Frustrated, she set it by the dumpster and returned to the cold, lonely park bench.

It had been so long. Too long.

And she felt terrible.

She had walked away from that storefront, away from Harry. When his expectant eyes dulled, it had felt like a stab to the heart.

What had he done to deserve that?

Guilt from that night-and the lingering fear of Oren-kept her away. She missed Harry's coffee, his delicious cakes, their lighthearted conversations. How he joked about everything. His bear hugs, most of all.

When she stood at the shop doors, he was closing up for the day. Employees bustled in and out of the kitchen while he manned the register.

She hesitated outside, watching him. There was a seriousness to his face, a tension beyond the numbers he was calculating.

Her hands curled into fists. Then, she stepped forward.

The bell above the door announced her before the scent of caffeine filled her senses.

"So sorry, we're..." He looked up. "Closed-Asher."

She froze.

The room felt bigger.

He seemed so far away, and it made her chest tighten.

Harry remained where he was, concern creasing his features.

"What did I do?" His voice was gentle. "Tell me, and I promise-I'm sorry."

Her vision blurred. Before she could blink, he was already there, pulling her into his huge arms.

She didn't know how long they stood like that. Didn't care.

She just knew she needed it.

When she finally pulled away, her voice was hoarse. "Harry, I'm a terrible person."

That night, Asher told him everything.

And she realized-if she died, she'd want Harry to be the one who knew her the most.

"I can't believe any of this," he admitted, stroking her hand.

"I know, right?"

"But... why keep it to yourself for so long? I've been here, Asher. You didn't have to feel unsafe unless I-"

"You didn't," she interrupted quickly. "I promise. It's just... hard to trust people these days."

He nodded. "I know. But Yellow, there's still good in the world. Not much, but it's there. And somehow, the Lord sends special people our way because He knows we can't always tell who's really on our side."

Asher picked at the skin around her nails.

To her, no one was good. No one could be trusted.

Not when the very man she once called father had put her through hell growing up.