A Letter To My Love: A Stolen Novel

Chapter 13

I coughed to signal that I was there in your room. Your eyes opened, letting me know that you were up and most likely had been up since before I had been in your room. You backed up away from me, keeping your set boundaries in mind as I set a cup of tea on the nightstand for you. 

"Tea," I said to answer your unspoken question. You had every right to be skeptical, being how I had drugged you before when your guard was down. 

You met my eyes with a glare before I realized that you'd rather be alone. "I'll wait in the kitchen," I said and slowly backed away with some hope that you'd tell me to stay, that one of these days you'd want me to stay, and I would. 

The kitchen lingered with your scent ever since the day you got here; it was the scent of vanilla with a hint of Jasmine. I held onto that scent until you finally came out with an empty cup. I smiled, knowing that you had drunk the tea. 

I stepped off of the wooden crate and opened the door for you with a burst of happiness. I haven't felt happiness like this in a long while, in too long of a while. It was good to know that you made me feel like this, but I wish I made you feel happy as well. It would have made things easier in the long run. 

You lingered inside the house as I remembered that I made the damper for you to eat. You were bone skinny and had lost over five pounds since you've been here. I've even noticed that the clothes looked bigger on you since you've first worn them. I felt a pit in my stomach that tugged all the way at my heartstrings, knowing that your unhealthiness was all my fault. 

"I made damper," I said and grabbed at it before you could politely decline. "Eat," I demanded as I noticed that you didn't take a step closer towards the food. 

You grabbed one but fumbled with it as you realized that it was hot to the touch. I grabbed you a glass of water to keep you hydrated if we were outside for the rest of the day. 

"You ready?" I asked as you touched your lip as it quivered. When you noticed me staring, you chugged the water and hid the face behind a shy grimace of a smile. I wish you didn't feel the need to hide your true feelings behind a mask; it made me feel like the bad guy when I wanted to be the hero of this story. I hoped that soon you would realize I was the hero and the world was the bad guy. Even that douchebag that you used to "date" was the bad guy. The way he touched you, the way he stared at you, he didn't want you for you, and that is one of the many reasons I had to bring you here. 

I didn't realize you walked outside before you were already ten paces ahead of me. Your steps lingered unsure today but remained confident all the same. You had begun to become one with the land, like me. 

You stopped and waited for me as you took in your surroundings. You looked towards me as if you wanted to ask me something but decided against it. I wish you had asked me. 

I kicked the reddish-brown sand around the crate in spite. To make amends with the sand, I picked at the sand attached to the house's side with gentle strokes, creating a new pattern of harsh waves. 

You jumped off of the crate and followed me to the corner of the house a few feet away from where we were last standing. 

I bent down to the side of the house to greet another wonder of paradise, a beautiful snake. Although, to you, a snake does more harm than good. 

"Still under there," I spoke under my breath to coo it out of hiding. I really wanted you to see him that day while you were safely behind me with shoes on your feet and your body covered completely in clothes. 

"He's just too far in to catch," I said sadly as I looked back towards you. 

"Who is?" 

"Snake," I said matter-of-factly, with a hint of pride showing in my voice and my facial expressions.