Destined Part I

Departure

The knock on the door scared me to death and I jumped up to my feet, gasping in surprise. I pressed a hand to my heart to slow the pulse, and growled angrily in frustration. It better not be Mrs. Watson. She was the last person I wanted to talk to right now.

I wiped the tears from my cheeks vigorously, and barely opened the door, peeking through the small crack to see who it was.

“I thought I’d come by and check up on you,” Haiden said as a smug grin played on his lips.

Seeing him made the tears clog my throat again.

“Haiden,” I whimpered, as I swung the door open, thrilled that he had come back for me.

I didn’t dare step forward for fear that even the slightest bit of light may touch my skin again. Haiden quickly noticed the fading burns on my skin, and the streaks of tears on my cheeks and immediately rushed forward into the doorway.

“What happened?” he demanded as he held my arms up so he could see.

I couldn’t talk. The sobbing had returned, and seeing the tears that had begun to stream down my face had Haiden pulling me close, squeezing me until my face was buried in his chest- soaking his black cotton shirt. I couldn’t control it, even if I wanted to. There is no way to describe the relief that I felt now that he was here again.

He let me cry, running his hand over my hair and down my back repeatedly, his lips pressed to the top of my head. He held me that way for a few moments, and I welcomed his comfort, wrapping my arms around his back tightly.

“Okay, baby, it’s okay now,” he whispered, trying to calm me down.

He continued to soothe, helping me pull myself together. His voice steadied my breath effectively and I was finally able control the sobs. Once I had regained my composure, I pulled myself weakly from his tear soaked chest.

“I’m so sorry I didn’t listen to you,” I sniffled.

“No, don’t…” he said, running his hands down to my wet cheeks and lifting my face to his.

“All I care about is that you got yourself inside, Adia, and that you are alive. That’s all that matters, okay?”

I nodded my head as he brushed the tears from my cheeks.

I was so stupid. I can’t believe I ever tried to handle this new life by myself, with no help at all. Being stubborn was one thing, but letting that stubbornness nearly kill you was a whole different ball game.

“I guess this means you are coming with me?” Haiden asked, not even bothering to hold back his victorious grin.

I let out a watery laugh.

“Yeah, I guess it does.”

We packed what I needed from my apartment in as few bags as possible while the bright sunlight faded in the evening sky. Haiden helped me, silently taking the items I handed him and stuffing them into my numerous gym bags. When each bag was full, he would carry it through the house and set it by the front door in the foyer.

He was so quiet that I wondered what it was he was thinking of. I watched him, and his cobalt eyes were still and patient, but he still never said a word. He just quietly loaded the bags, helping me prepare for the trip.

After thirty minutes, all of my necessities were ready. I say necessities because if Haiden thought an item I handed him was somehow superfluous, he would set it aside, refraining from placing it in the bag. I never said anything, though, and I never argued. He wanted me to trust him, and although hundreds of questions were racing through my mind, I felt it was necessary, especially after today, that I showed him I would do just that. Besides, he was basically saving my life. I regretted that I had ever tried to do this on my own. And I was grateful that he was willing to take me in, to bring me to a place where he said I would be protected. So I never questioned him about his packing decisions. I just silently followed his lead.