Two broken souls in the midst of a crazy world. Two souls running away from their past. There was no light at the end of the tunnel. The tunnel was cracking, slowly closing in.
When these two connect, as if they were set on the same path, light cre...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
My pale knuckles tap lightly against the dark wood of the front door. My eyes burn from the continuous stream of tears that never seem to stop. I have no right, no right to stand here and hope to be welcomed back into a home that was never mine.
I catch a glimpse of soft blonde hair as the door creaks open, almost forgetting I had knocked not so long ago. Rhea's soft features taunt me, almost mocking me as she stands in the doorway with a smile. Smiling like nothing had happened, like everything was fine. Nothing is fine.
"Valentina!" Her voice stabs my ears as her soft arms wrap around me, squeezing me with everything she has.
An embrace I hadn't felt in so long, stuck in isolation with the man I once fell in love with. Sebastian was cruel, yet I couldn't shake him. Not yet.
I don't wrap my arms around her. Instead, I take a soft step back, slipping out of her embrace. Past her, I see the familiar faces I once called my friends. Viv has her head in Adonis' lap, his large hand running through her soft black hair.
Damian's eyes are focused on the back of Rhea's head, a small smile dancing on his lips as Parker lies beside him, seemingly talking his ear off, though Damian has no idea what he's saying. Playing cards lay abandoned on the coffee table as they all sit enjoying each other's presence.
"Can I come in?" My voice is hoarse, causing Rhea's brows to furrow for just a moment before she resets her features back to bright.
"Of course you can!" I can't tell if she's clueless or purposely pushing the reality into the back of her mind. She's always been like that. So carefree, no matter her circumstances. I watch her step to the side as I rub my palms against my sweater. Eyes shoot up at me as I inch inside the home. The home I should still be sharing.
Vivian's eyes widen as Adonis shifts his hand down to her shoulder, as if stopping her from getting up. Parker, ever the angel, jumps up from the couch first.
"Val..." He glances behind me as Rhea shuts the door, as if looking for any sign of Sebastian. When the coast is clear, he half stumbles over, wrapping an arm around my shoulder. "No Seb? Let's go!"
I thought they were all still friends. For a moment, I thought he was disappointed I didn't bring Sebastian along. He didn't know I was here. Hell, he'd lose his mind if he found out at all.
I clear my throat. "No, Sebastian's not coming. Can I sit?"
I can feel Adonis scowling at me, but finally, the voice I so desperately wanted to hear speaks up.
"You can sit here." Vivian readjusts herself, sitting up as Adonis pulls her into his side. Parker's arm slips off my shoulder as I move painfully slow, sitting on the couch as if it will break under my weight if I let myself get comfortable.
"So, what are you doing here exactly?" Damian speaks up, his voice full of anything but amusement. I watch as Rhea's eyes travel to his for a brief moment, her back straightening against the seat she's just taken.
