A Thousand Year Obsession ✔

38. Don't Go Back

39. Don't Go Back

"Hey . . . ?" A soft voice nudged into my dreams and I groaned. "Hey, Shaie, you awake?"

My eyelids peeled back slowly and my gaze shifted towards Juliette's silhouette standing before the side of my bed. I let out a small huff and slumped back against my pillows.

"I am now." I grumbled.

She smiled sheepishly and crawled onto my bed. I sat up and wrapped the blanket around my torso as Juliette glanced over at the open window, her eyes twinkling as she stared longingly at the stars.

"You remember those sleepovers we used to have?" She murmured.

I nodded. "Yeah, at midnight, we'd climb out onto your porch roof and see how many constellations we could find."

She chuckled. "I bet there's so many more out here."

I followed her gaze and watched the sparkling night sky with her.

"Did you seriously wake me up to talk about stars?" I asked mockingly.

She didn't respond for a moment, didn't even smile. "Don't you miss it, Shaie? Being normal?"

I pulled my knees to my chest and rested my head atop them. "Yeah, I guess, but this is my home. All of it."

She glanced at me and crossed her legs over each other. "Tell me about it. I already told you everything about my world. It's your turn."

I pressed my lips together and thought for a while.

"Before or after Derek?" I asked after a moment.

"Before."

"Well, I'm from a Noble family, so I had lots and lots of pretty gowns."

"Got to add that detail." She cut in sarcastically.

I grinned and gently slapped her arm before continuing. "My mother hired a tutor for me and Sally and every day from sun up to noon, we each had lessons. Then we usually went out to the market or the fields. We'd make up games with invisible people and imagined ourselves getting married or meeting our prince in shining armor." I leaned towards her slightly with a pointed look and she laughed. "Sometimes we rode horses or played down by the river. Then I'd either help my mother cook or have weapons training with my father." I sighed longingly, closing my eyes gently as I allowed the memories to wash over me like a bucket of soapy water, cleansing me of my burdens.

"What happened to your parents?" Juliette asked quietly.

My eyes slid open and I turned towards the window. "They died in a fire." I paused to inhale deeply, the back of my eyes prickling. "Derek caused it."

She pressed her lips together tightly. "I'm sorry--"

"Don't. It was three years ago." I broke in. I glanced back at her and smiled. "I'm fine now."

Her eyed narrowed but I brushed it off.

"That's pretty much it for me. Not a very eventful childhood." I chuckled.