RENEÉ GREY

32| Finally, Grey spoke again

32 | Her voice dripping with honey

CH 32: Can guilt truly consume a person, or is it possible to let go and forgive oneself?

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'Guilt can be an incredibly destructive force, but it is possible to let go and find forgiveness.'

"No, I killed him."

The words, low and grave, came from behind Renee and Lave, making them both spin around in shock. There was Grey, standing a few feet away, a look of anguish on his face. "I asked him for a ride," he said, his voice breaking. "I made him get in the car that day. That's why he died."

He stepped closer to the two women, draped jackets over their shoulders, and pulled them close.

"Grey, don't say that," Lave said, her voice gentle but firm. "It was an accident. You can't blame yourself for that."

But Grey wouldn't listen. "If I hadn't asked him for that ride...if I hadn't made him get in that car...he'd still be here. And I'd still have a father."

Renee could see the tears forming in Grey's eyes, and her heart ached for him. "Grey, please don't do this to yourself," she pleaded, her voice shaking.

Grey let out a shaky breath and closed his eyes, trying to compose himself. "It's just...I can't help but feel responsible, Renee," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "And now, with everything I'm building with you...I just don't know if I can handle it. I feel like I'll always be haunted by that accident."

Renee reached out and took his hand, her grip warm and steady. "Grey, you're not alone in this. Lave and I are here for you.

"I'm just not sure I deserve love," Grey said, his voice heavy with emotion. "After what I did, I don't deserve to be happy. I feel like I'm just cursed to carry this burden for the rest of my life."Renee's heart clenched.

 She wanted to tell Grey that he was wrong, that he deserved all the love in the world, but she knew he wouldn't believe her. Instead, she just squeezed his hand tighter and said, "You don't have to carry this alone, Grey. Let me in. Let me help you."

For a long moment, Grey didn't say anything. He just stood there, the wind whistling around them, the night sky seeming to grow darker and more foreboding with every second that passed. Finally, he let out a shuddering breath and said, "I don't know if I can, Renee. This...this is something I've carried for so long. I don't know if I can just let it go."

Renee's eyes filled with tears, and she reached out to wipe them away from his face. 

"Grey, I'm not asking you to let go of your grief," Renee said, her voice soft and reassuring. "But I'm asking you to let me be here for you, to share this burden with you. You're not alone in this, Grey. You never have to be alone again."

As she spoke, she reached up and cupped his face in her hands, her fingers gently brushing against his cheekbones. She could feel his skin trembling under her touch, and her heart ached for him.

Grey let out a shaky breath and leaned into her touch, closing his eyes and letting the warmth of her hands seep into him. He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt so comforted, so understood. "Renee," he whispered, his voice hoarse with emotion. "I don't know how I got so lucky."

Renee smiled and pressed a soft kiss to his forehead. "You're not lucky, Grey," she whispered back. "You're just loved.

The wind picked up, stirring the leaves on the ground and sending a chill through the air. But Renee didn't move. She stayed there, holding Grey close, letting him know with her presence that he was safe, that he was cared for.