Reprisal

Chapter 35 : The Empty Stare

Christopher was slumped onto the sofa in the living room. His head on the back as he stared at the ceiling.

He had been bracing himself for this moment since the day he fell in love with her. Was gathering courage to endure the pain her abhorring gaze would cause yet still he was not prepared. He knew he will never be ready. He was so used to be looked at with so much love by her that he didn't know how to deal with her accusing and betrayed eyes.

And now she had left.

Tears streamed down his cheeks and dissolved into the back of his head. She had left to never return. What was the purpose of living anymore ? He had lost the will to live the day his father had died and he had reached the orphanage. But the purpose of Foxen's doom kept him going. Now, that was done and he was once again left without any purpose in life. The person who had become his motivation to live was... gone.

With a fierce determination settling in his mind, he wiped his tears and stood up. His head automatically turning in the direction of the balcony. He was done suffering. Done battling with life and surviving through strikes after strikes. The wounds those strikes had left were so deep that they'd require another lifetime to heal. He wanted to be in peace now. To be at peace. The eternal peace.

The apartment door clicked open, making him halt in his track and turn to see.

Isabel appeared in the foyer.

His heart slammed to his ribcage. He didn't dare believe his eyes. It could be his wistful imagination. The deep longing in him to see her before dying.

“Chris..” - she choked and ran towards him.

The next thing he knew was her in his arms. Every fiber of his being became alive and he felt like every organ of his system was sobbing. His mind reeled dealing with so many emotions at once. His body spasmed with the wave of relief engulfing it from head to toe.

“I am so sorry Chris... I'm so sorry...” - she spoke while crying. Her fingers haphazardly running through his hair, arms tight around his neck. “I met Margarette.”

That was enough to explain the rest to him. So she now knew everything. But his sole focus was on the fact that she knew everything and didn't hate him. She was there, in his arms. A warmth against the cold world. The light against his dark.

His shoulders shook as he started sobbing on her shoulder. His face nestling in her neck to soak her in himself. To make his still in disbelief self believe that he had not lost her. She had not left him. They are together.

Isabel's chest ache worsened at his shaking. She tried to pull back to hold his face in her hands and calm him down but he tightened his arms around her waist.

“Chris..” - she whispered, flattening her palms on his back and caressing soothingly. “I want to tell you something...”

She didn't try to pull back this time. Because the news she was going to give him would surely provide comfort. More than anything.

He took his face out from the crook of her neck but still didn't pull back. Just placed his head on her shoulder now, silently telling her she had all his attention.

Kissing his shoulder, she took a moment to herself. His forest green sweater oozed warmth along with his distinctive patchouli fragrance. She was already addicted to his bodily scent. Now the feeling of becoming a mother had enhanced it further.

“You will be such a handsome Dad.”

She unintentionally spoke her thought out loud. Her tone calm and face smiling.

Her statement made him finally break their hug. His eyes were wide upon meeting her eyes. Face smeared with tears and hands trembling as they sought hers, fingers intertwining on their own.