Echoes of Three Souls

Chapter 15: The Gentle Fade of Loneliness

Maeve POV

Having spent the rest of Saturday buried in blankets, sleeping off the weight of the alcohol and drowning in an emergency phone call with my therapist to work through last night's chaos, I woke up Sunday feeling unexpectedly lighter, as if I'd shed a layer of heaviness that had clung to me for months—a faint pressure pressed on my chest. Blinking my eyes open, I was met with Archie's intense green gaze. He let out a soft meow, his nose nudging against my cheek with a tenderness that warmed me to my core.

"Good morning, little prince," I murmured, running my fingers through his velvety fur. His warmth was a balm, but as soon as he heard my voice, he hopped off the bed and padded toward the door, pausing to glance back as if to say, "Well? I'm waiting."

I laughed softly. Such a diva—especially when he was trying to lead me to his food bowl. I stretched, every limb stiff from a night of deep, dreamless sleep. As I moved, thoughts of Scarlett and Reese fluttered into my mind, unbidden but welcome, their presence still lingering like a faint melody in the quiet apartment. The memory of their laughter, the warmth of their touch, filled the silence. Scarlett's soothing voice and Reese's husky one echoed gently in my mind, sending a flutter through my stomach.

As I got out of bed, my gaze fell to the napkin I had placed carefully on my nightstand, their phone numbers written in Scarlett's elegant script. My fingers brushed over the ink, the memory of her hand tucking that loose strand behind my ear as fresh as if it had just happened. I could still feel the gentle graze of her nails along my arm, the lingering touch Reese left on my shoulder before they'd left. A shy smile crept across my face, but my stomach fluttered with nerves. How could they see so much in me—how could they possibly want me in the way they did each other?

After a moment, I shook my head, trying to shake off the weight of self-doubt before it had a chance to burrow in. I had promised myself I wouldn't sabotage this. I could hold onto that promise for a little longer, even if it meant silencing the fearful voices in my head.

After tossing on an oversized sweater, I shuffled into the kitchen, filling Archie's bowl before he could start his usual breakfast serenade. As I placed the dish on the floor, he wound himself around my legs, purring and nudging against me, his affection filling the empty space that had crept in once Scarlett and Reese left. Stroking his soft fur, I took a deep breath, letting the feeling of comfort wash over me.

I glanced at my phone, a small part of me hoping there might be a message from one of them. Instead, a missed call from Granny greeted me, along with a sweet check-in text from Devin. After sending a quick reply to Dev, reassuring her that I was managing better than I'd expected, I dialed Granny's number. The phone rang, and suddenly, I felt a familiar, soothing anticipation—like wrapping myself in a well-worn quilt.

"Hi, Granny!" I said, the sound of her voice causing a familiar tightness to rise in my chest.

"Oh, Maeve, my darling! I've been waiting for your call!" Her voice held that warmth that made me ache with homesickness. "How are you, my dear?"

Hearing her made my throat tighten, and I blinked back the sting of tears. "I'm... doing okay," I managed, my voice a little shaky. "Just keeping busy with work, you know. How are you and Grandad?"

"We're doing well, just missing you around here. Your Grandad was just saying how much he misses your visits." Her voice held a hint of a smile as Grandad's voice murmured faintly in the background. "Here, let me put this on speaker so he can hear you."

Grandad's gruff but playful voice filled the line. "Still waiting on those blueberry muffins of yours, Maeve. Starting to think you've forgotten us."

A laugh bubbled up from me, light and free. "I'd never forget you, Grandad! I'll bring a whole batch next time I visit."