Can't you feel my heart beating? (Gabenath)

Chapter 18

From a distance he observes her, and she's beautiful just as always. Her feet move around in quick motions as she along with others prepare for the start of the show.

The weeks have flown by inevitably fast, and for the first time in a while Gabriel feels like himself. He's ready to present his latest collection to the world, and he's motivated to do the things he likes. He feels ready to do what he was made for and show what he is capable of doing in the fashion industry.

Yet, none of that is what matters now. Nathalie is who matters now. It's her thoughts and opinions that he cares about the most because she is the one who dominates his mind day and night.

And as she works just as she always has. He wonders how they've managed these past weeks since the last time he had her in between his arms.

It's been hard for both of them, but Gabriel has seen changes. He's seen progress in their relationship. He senses the weight of his wrongdoings fading away. He feels his grief and all the things that haunted him for years now drifting away.

The torture and restlessness have stopped. The hatred and resentment have abandoned his mind and everything that's ever tormented him has finally come to an end.

Everything now feels like a new beginning. He feels like he's gotten the opportunity to start over and mend his mistakes.

The man he's been all these years since the tragic death of his family is long forgotten.

At least to him.

———

He watches as she begins to approach him, knowing that she's been the one who's changed him.

Her love, her patience, her warmth.

It was all his broken heart needed.

"We're ready." Nathalie says once the models line up in the order they'll walk out onto the runway.

"Good." He responds as his eyes scan each model who stands utterly still just a few feet away from them. Needing to make sure they haven't missed anything.

Then his eyes drift towards Nathalie who quietly awaits any further comment from him.

"You look beautiful tonight."

Nathalie can't help the slight blush that covers her cheeks to his words. She wasn't expecting his compliment even as he's been so lovely these past weeks. It's sometimes still hard to understand that he's suddenly this changed man.

His compliments, his kindness, his love... all have been different yet beautiful things to discover from him.

"Thank you." She utters in a shy and low voice.

He smiles at her, his right hand unwittingly goes into his pocket to touch the small, soft box inside. Gabriel twirls the box in his hand for what seems like the millionth time that night. His nervousness seems to be on edge since the moment he placed that small box in his pocket. Yet, he tries his best to control his enthusiasm and maintain a neutral but kind expression.

"We're ready to begin!" A voice sounds from behind. Everyone begins to move at a rapid pace to ensure that everything goes as it must.

The show begins and the models all walk the runway with deep elegance and beauty. Gabriel watches the show from backstage through a screen, and with Nathalie sitting next to him the entire time.

His hand goes to hers at one point and doesn't let go for the remainder of their time seated there. Their fingers entwined and the warmth of their hands clasped together seems like an invisible medicine that makes their souls feel better. Gabriel's gaze goes down to see their joined hands, and he can't help but once again notice how bare her ring finger looks. It makes him feel so terrible every time he realizes how random their marriage was. It saddens him knowing how horrible he was to her when all she did was help him.
Gabriel now sees his mistakes as clear as day and his goal now is to repair every single one of them. Again, his free hand travels to his pocket, feeling the soft material of the velvet box buried there.