❝𝐇𝐄𝐘 𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐋❞ - 𝐚𝐱𝐞𝐥 𝐤𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐜

27

-🥋-

chapter twenty-seven

MADDIE

Staring at Axel's contact on my phone, I look at the last text I sent him, wishing him a good flight on his way home.

I knew he got to the airport around two hours ago, as I was the one that drove him and hugged him goodbye at the check in desk. He was supposed to be flying out in around an hour, and despite wishing he could just stay in the Valley with me forever, I knew if that was meant to happen, it would happen in time.

He needed time to himself, without the puppet strings of Wolf sucked into him deeply. I would give him as much time to learn who he was without the sensei that's abused him for over eight years. If he couldn't tell me he loved me back, I would never force him to. If he didn't want to kiss me, I would never make him. Every decision he made was for himself, and I have never once thought about showing anything but respect to him.

He is so strong, the strongest person I know. Both physically and mentally. With the comfort that he was still with me, I smiled as I watched him walk up the stairs and wave me goodbye. I wasn't scared for him, I was so proud of him. I think I was glowing with love as I waved back to him, just in awe of him and the air he breathed.

Every decision he now made, was for him and only him. In my mind, he's the priority. If he made a decision for his life that didn't align with mine, his came first. I'd find a way to work around it, so he could live the life I knew he should have had, and the life I knew he deserved.

I'd come to the terms with the fact I wasn't in control this time. If he needed time, I'd give it to him. I didn't come first, it was him. It was always him.

Sliding my phone away from me, I widen my eyes as a group of young girls rush towards me, waving photos of my in front of my face. From beside me, Miguel gets several of the crowd moving to him, begging him for photos.

I glance to look at Miguel, smiling at the crowd of small kids circling us, all of them begging for autographs. A small girl walks towards me, holding up the photo of Axel and I with a timid smile.

"Hi," she stammers, looking up at me with big brown eyes. I look at her for a moment, just taking in how much she reminds me of me. Big brown eyes, straight brown hair and bunny cheeks.

The only difference is that while she has straight hair, my hair's turned oddly curly in the last month. Naturally curly, and curls that I have to spend around thirty minutes each morning defining.

"Hey," I smile, leaning down so I'm at her eye level. "How old are you, little miss?"

"Ten," she grins, handing me a bright pink gel pen. "Can you sign this with this. I like pink."

"Yeah, me too," I reply, gently taking the pen from her and writing my signature. "What's your name?"

"Grace," she replies. I nod at her, writing her a small message underneath my signature.

I take an extra moment to look at the picture, knowing that it is my favourite one ever. I got the photo in my emails yesterday, and have already framed it in my room. When I get the chance, I'm going to ask if I can post it, but knowing our tragic streak of my instagram posts, it's only going up if he's 100% sure.