The falls

chapter 48

Neomi sat on the edge of the old log cabin's couch, staring out the window into the woods, her mind racing. The cabin was quiet, except for the occasional crackle of the fireplace. Lilien stood near the door, her fingers nervously tapping against the wood as she tried to find the right words. She knew this conversation had to happen—there was no more avoiding it. Neomi had been holding back, but the weight of Lilien's betrayal lingered between them, even if Jessica had been quick to forgive.

Taking a deep breath, Lilien stepped closer. "Neomi," she started softly, her voice carrying an apology long before her words could. "I wanted to talk to you alone because... I can tell you're still upset with me. And you have every right to be."

Neomi didn't look at her at first, still gazing out into the woods. The silence was heavy.

"I know you're trying to forgive me," Lilien continued, sitting down on the couch next to her. "But what I did... it was reckless. It was stupid. Even if Jessica tries to say it was just a mistake, I know it really hurt you."

Neomi sighed deeply, finally turning her head slightly to glance at Lilien. "It's not that easy, Lilien. You could've died. You went through that rip without thinking about what would happen—about how it would affect us. I'm... I'm not just mad. I'm scared."

Lilien nodded, her heart sinking. She had known Neomi was upset, but hearing the fear in her voice made it hit even harder. "I know. I'm scared too, Neomi. I'm scared because I know I messed up, and I don't want to lose you or Jessica. But what I did—going through the rip, helping Bill—I wasn't thinking. I didn't trust you both enough to talk it through, and that was my mistake."

Neomi's eyes softened a little, but the tension in her posture remained. "It wasn't just about the rip, Lilien. It's about trust. You didn't trust me. You didn't trust Jessica. And when you went through that rip, I wasn't just afraid of what you'd find on the other side. I was afraid you wouldn't come back at all. You could've died, and I wouldn't have even known until it was too late."

Lilien swallowed hard. "I know, and I'm so sorry for that. You're right—I didn't think about how it would make you feel. I wasn't thinking about the bigger picture. But Neomi, I trust you. I do. I just... I need to show you that. And I will."

Neomi looked down at her hands, her fingers tracing the seams of the couch absentmindedly. "I don't want to lose you, Lilien. I don't. But you need to understand that this... it scared me. Not just because of the rip or Bill, but because it felt like you didn't care about us. About me."

Lilien's heart broke hearing those words. She reached out, gently placing her hand over Neomi's. "I do care about you. More than anything. And I want to prove that. I'm going to be honest with you and Jessica from now on. No more running off and doing stuff behind your backs. I promise."

Neomi glanced up at her, her eyes searching Lilien's face for any sign of doubt. After a moment, she sighed, her posture relaxing a bit. "Okay. But Lilien... you can't just say that. You have to mean it."

"I do," Lilien said earnestly. "I really do."

There was a long pause before Neomi finally nodded. "Alright. I believe you."

The tension that had been between them seemed to lift, replaced with something softer, more familiar. Lilien gave Neomi a small smile before leaning in and pulling her into a hug. Neomi hesitated for a second, but then wrapped her arms around Lilien, the embrace warm and comforting.

"I'm sorry," Lilien whispered. "I'm going to do better."

Neomi nodded against her, the weight of the last few days finally starting to ease. "I know. Just... don't scare me like that again."

Lilien pulled back slightly, looking into Neomi's eyes. "I won't."

There was a moment of quiet understanding between them, the air heavy with relief. And then, almost instinctively, Lilien leaned in, her lips brushing softly against Neomi's. It was hesitant at first, as if testing the waters, but when Neomi didn't pull away, it quickly deepened. The kiss was slow, deliberate, a quiet reaffirmation of their connection, their trust.

Neomi's hand found its way to the back of Lilien's neck, pulling her closer, while Lilien's fingers tangled in Neomi's hair. For a moment, everything else faded away—the rip, Bill, the uncertainty of what lay ahead—and all that mattered was them. The warmth between them felt safe, like they were finding their way back to each other after days of tension and fear.

As they finally broke apart, both of them were breathing a little heavier, but there was a small smile on Neomi's face. "Okay," she said softly, her voice lighter than it had been in days. "I think we're good now."

Lilien grinned, feeling lighter herself. "Yeah. I think so too."