Gabriel

50. Home Now

Wiped Out! – The Neighbourhood

PLEASE READ:

This is it, my people. This is the end. I've spent way to much time contemplating how to end the book and after MONTHS I've finally settled it. There, of course, will be a book two coming shortly. But I just wanted to give a HUGE thanks to everyone who made this possible, and helped motivate me to continue writing!

Love,

Caroline

P.S. Book II ("Maeve") is up on my profile... no chapters yet but adding it to your library will alert you to when I start book II (hopefully very soon).

~

GABRIEL

She sits in the lukewarm bathtub with her knees pulled to her chest as she stares at the water droplets falling from the faucet. I sit on the other side of the tub, her left hand gathered between both of mine as I let the pad of my thumb reassuringly stroke her palm. She shivers silently and I open my mouth to offer that she gets out and crawls into bed but before I can, she speaks.

"Please don't."

I stop and sigh, placing a gentle kiss on her hand.

After we came through the elevator and back home, she practically collapsed while sobbing. She wouldn't let me touch her but she couldn't get up on her own and I became so worried that I almost yelled at her. Then, through her inconsolable sobs, I understood. She remembered. Shortly after, I got her to calm down slightly and although I had absolutely no fucking clue what to do, she told me she wanted to take a bath- in much less pleasant terms, but none the less, I complied.

I left her alone for barely a minute to call the doctor and ask if I should take her back to the hospital but she assured me her pain wasn't physical. She explained how she had feared this would happen because memories are more likely to return with familiarity in the senses, especially with smell. The doctor explained the only thing I could do was get professional help, so I decided to call Maeve's therapist on Monday to set up an appointment.

When I came back into the bathroom she was panicking, afraid that I had left. I assured her I would never leave again.

I watch the outline of her face, so happy to have her back home and so relieved that she remembers me but so fucking angry. I start thinking too deeply, about what had happened to her, about how I could have found her sooner, about how I could have never let her out of my sight in the first place, and although I don't intend to break down, these things are never preventable.

I start tearing up and shaking with anger and my wolf wants to get out, and I can't stop myself from sobbing. I want to be strong for my Maeve, but thinking about what my girl must've gone through is too much. I feel a soothing hand in my hair, and looking up, she sighs.

"This is all very fucked up, isn't it?" She muses. I nod and place another kiss on her palm.

"I'm so sorry, baby. I –", I start.

"Please, don't do this to yourself. Just... don't. It happened. It's over now. I just want to forget about it", she says, moving a strand of wet hair behind her ear. I begin to protest but she stops me with a kiss. I hesitate at her sudden change in demeanor.

"Just for tonight please", she says, her hands running through my hair. I nod and quickly help her out of the now-cold bath. She shivers and I wrap a soft towel around her frame.

I try not to look but can't help but notice all the wounds adorning her skin, many self-inflicted and many not. I also notice how she's gained back a little weight since returning, yet she still looks thinned and... hollow.