One by One

Chapter 20- Safe

I grabbed my green rain boots and headed out. Devon didn't come home last night. I guess he'd given up on me. I just never thought he would. I cried myself to sleep last night. Then I cried when I woke up. Then I cried again when I saw his stupid note. Then I cried even more when Frank asked me where Devon was.

It was evening and the sun was just setting in. I didn't care if it had been raining. I didn't care if my eyes were swollen, or if people didn't love me anymore. I just needed my escapism.

I walked leisurely towards the place I loved the most. The park, where good and bad memories were made. I looked up at the auburn sky and thought of Deborah, how her hair always looked beautiful in the Sun. I plopped myself down on the wet bench. I didn't care how it made my butt feel uncomfortable. This wet bench somehow reminded me of my mother. There were so many benches in this park but I always chose this bench. Although it was dented in places, scratched up here and there, it was still the same to me. Beautifully damaged. I swung my leg and hit the mud. Mud flew everywhere but I didn't care. It reminded me of my father and just how much he had done. He was like the rain, he damaged everything when he touched them; but just like the mud, the water would soon evaporate and it would become soil again. Not perfect, but still the same nonetheless. I stared out into the empty park, and it reminded me of Devon. Peaceful, calming, relaxing, my safe haven. It reminded me of when we had made a memory I would not forget. It reminded me of a time I thought my life would be a road full of light and discoveries, adventure. Then, just like the wind, it picked it all up and moved elsewhere. I loved Devon so much. I've said it over and over, it feels like a mantra. If only he'd understand.

"Brady, we need to talk".

I froze recognizing his voice. How I missed it. I turned around slowly and got up. There I saw him, straddled in his crutches. I didn't care, I raced to him and hugged him like my life depended on it. It was time I stood up, for the both of us.

Then I looked up to him and slapped him because of the pain he put me through. Then I hugged him again because I missed him so much. "Why are you so stupid? Leaving a note on my bed saying all that and just ... leaving me there? I mean... have I not told you countless times how much I loved you?" I screamed. "So much", I stressed.

He looked at me with sorry eyes, I knew that look. Guilt.

"Then you tell me your dad is gone and you tell me all that gibberish? You're the only person I'll ever love. You're the only person I'll share my life with. You're the only man that's ever going to hold me like you do. I want to share your problems, I want to feel what you feel. I want you to understand the things I do. I want you. Only you. Letting you go would be the death of me. I'll never let you go. Never", I said, glassy-eyed. I put my hands on my hip and cried at the pain he put me through.

He looked at me and closed the distance between us. He didn't need words. He kissed me, hard and I kissed him back. I wrapped my arms around his neck and tugged onto his hair. He held my waist with one hand and touched the nape of my neck with the other.

"I'm sorry. I know I'm stupid sometimes and I make rash decisions. I know I will never be perfect for you but I know myself enough to know that I would do anything for you to never feel sad about anything ever again. I know that you're the only girl I've ever laid my eyes on and that you're the only girl I'll ever love. I'm sorry I put you through hell. I can't promise you anything but I can promise you that I love you more than you will ever imagine."

I buried my face in his neck and indulged the words he spoke.

"I just... I want strength in this relationship, to know that when you're upset, I can help make it better. Or when you're in doubt, I can help make thing clearer. I just want to be yours... your savior, your superhero. I just want to be your man. And not being at your father's trial sucked because I really wanted to be there for you. I've let you down twice, I just wanted to make it better. For the both of us." He muttered. There was a comfortable silence before I spoke.

"Have you not realized you've been all of that since the day you helped me pick up my books when Tom knocked them over? Have you not heard enough of my bullshit to know that I have given you all my problems to share? Maybe I've left the biggest of problems to myself, and I'm sorry. I didn't want you there at the trial because I didn't want to see you get hurt or to watch me cry again; not because I didn't want you there. I was protecting you, and that's all I've been doing".

"Well stop protecting me. You've been doing that for as long as I can remember. Didn't you remember once upon a time ago where I said you would never be alone again? I meant it. Let me protect you now. Let me do that for the rest of our lives. Let me do that when you're old and wrinkly. Let me keep you safe. Let me watch as we grow old together. Let me be the one that protects you," he says. His blue eyes pierce my thoughts and my legs buckle at his words.

"Will you do that for me?" he asks and I don't hesitate to say yes.

"I will say yes to Pluto and back but even that amount of yesses would not amount to the amount of yesses in my head for you." I answer.

We smile in each other's embrace and stand there for what seems like forever. The beautiful, exhilarating silence brings about serendipity even I can never explain.

"Well that was cheesy," I laugh and he joins me.

"Now, let's talk. I don't care about the whys. I just want to know the now's."

"Well then, my real name is Emily Xenia Walt. I was the product of a mad man and a mislead woman. I lied about my life to hide the painful truth. All my life it's been difficult and easy at the same time. Until my past caught up with my present and all my pillars fell one by one. I am blessed with a beautiful soul that keeps me sheltered and happy. His name is Devon and he happens to be holding me right now".

"Well I think her name is beautiful. The boy Devon that happens to be holding her right now is the luckiest boy in the whole entire world because the girl he's holding means more than the world to him. He no longer has any parents but it doesn't hurt as much as it should because of the girl he's holding. I happen to be that boy, Emily," he smiles and I smile back.

"What now?" I ask.

"Now, we live for the future. Just the both of us, because that's the only life I will ever want to live."