Reawakening Eve--WATTPAD PRIZE 2014

Chapter 9: Accepting

3:30 A.M.

  Cadence was in the hospital coffee room, sitting against the wall and crying. She heard footsteps come in and the familiar scent of cherry-vanilla perfume come her way. Tasha crouched down in front of her and took a look at her blotted face. Tasha didn't have to ask nor say a thing to know what had happened. Tasha watched her for a moment and when Cadence couldn't stop crying, Tasha slapped her hard across the face. Cadence felt as if the breath were knocked out of her and placed a tender hand against her burning cheek.

  "Snap out of it Cadence." She said firmly and took her wrists. "Listen. Whatever happened between you and Ash was not his fault, it was yours." Cadence sniffled and nodded. "But, you can always fix it right?" Tasha gave her a small grin. "Young love is complicated, especially in a setting such as yours, but it can work out if you stop feeling so darn sorry for yourself and just get up and confront him."

  "But he must hate me now---"

  Tasha sighed. "Have you been listening child? Confront him yourself and tell him the truth! Even if he doesn't accept your feelings, it is better for the truth to set you free." Cadence nodded in agreement.

  "Besides," Tasha winked. "I doubt he'll say no to a pretty thing like you." Cadence laughed and hugged Tasha. "Thanks Tasha." She stood up and went to go home, but Tasha handed her an ice pack. "You might need that...Considering how hard I slapped you." Cadence thanked her again and left, planning to talk to Ash later on.

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9:30 A.M.

  Ash awoke to the sound of birds outside the window. He groggily opened his eyes and saw the dove's nest alive with activity. Three baby doves bobbed their heads excitedly for food as the mother and father fed them already chewed worms. He rolled carefully off the bed and looked back at Eve. Her eyelids were still trembling and she was in the same position from last night. He walked to the window and watched the family of doves, letting the fresh sunlight warm his face. The mother and father seemed content and he smiled softly as they chirped a nice serenade. Today was going to be different, he decided. Today was the day that everything would change.

  Ash picked up his cell. Who would he call first? Cadence or Jack?

  He stared back at Eve and decided to call Cadence first. After 3 rings she finally picked up, but her voice sounded tired and sore. "I want to talk with you." He said. "Me too." She replied and agreed to meet him out in the hospital garden.

  After Ash had some breakfast, he went out into the garden and waited for Cadence. A couple of minutes later, she appeared, wearing a light green sweater and jeans. She came over and stood before him. She looked very pale, with dark rings under her eyes from exhaustion. She had been conflicted as he was with all of this.

  "Good morning. You can sit here if you want." Ash began. Cadence's lips twitched and she hesitantly sat down a little ways from him. For a long while, no one spoke, but then Ash found himself staring at the dove's nest and spoke:

 "Do you remember showing me those doves? You told me that love could amount to a new beginning, that saying together holds the nest together...Well...I think I said that last part wrong..."

  Cadence nodded. "Yes." She responded quietly.

  Ash gestured to the baby doves peeking up out of the nest, their pink heads bobbing up and down. "I believe you now.' He turned toward her took her hand in his. His face held a soft smile. "All these weeks...You've been the one holding me together. You've encouraged me and have cared for me and I've been oblivious to everything." He blushed. "It might sound sappy, but I think you're my new beginning." By then, she had tears in her already red eyes.

 "I'm so sorry about launching myself onto you like that. I knew that you still had feelings for her but--" She started.

  "I know where I want to be now." Ash smiled and leaned in closer. "Eve will always be a part of me, but so are you now." He then scooted near to her and kissed her gently on the lips wrapped her in his arms. They sat there like that for a long while, finally embracing each other.

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One more chapter left and then epilogue!