Wynter's Tale

Chapter 3

I ran out of the bar, my only sanctuary now tainted by my former life. I needed to get away, to hide until it's safe again to come out.

I was angry and I was hurt, the feelings never faded in these three years, but that was not the reason I ran away. I was scared, so afraid that Wyatt would see me for what I have become. I could not face the disappointment in his eyes when he would realize how I did not turn out to be strong enough. He should only remember me as I was, the happy tough chick who loved foolishly. Not this broken rag doll I had become, never this.

I did not hear the shouts of my name until the source was only a feet away. Each thud of the boot through the street brought my heart beat up another notch. I was slowly losing the hope of out running him and soon a strong pair of hands caught me, pushing me against the wall, with my back to him.

"Stop running", Wyatt whispered as he gently held me with his body. "For God's sake, stop running from me", he tightened his hands on my arms. His touch so foreign yet so familiar. I shivered, my body pressing back into him, wanting more of him. I curled my hands into fists, trying to hold back the sobs that were on the verge of wracking my body, and the desires that were hard to control. My feelings were all over the place, and his were unknown to me.

We stood there for a time unknown, until one of the sobs finally won against me. I was too drained to put up a greater fight. Wyatt quickly turned me around.

"Wynter", he cupped my cheeks. "Are you..." he frowned and stopped midsentence. His hands roamed over my forehead and neck. My legs suddenly felt too weak to support my weight. My limbs were one by one refusing to cooperate anymore.

"Shit, you are burning up..." and I fell on him as my surroundings blackened.

~

I pushed out of the dark abyss I was drowned into, my mind being filled again with all the pointless random thoughts that never seem to cease when I'm conscious. After a bit of a struggle I finally opened my eyes, lifting myself up. My body protested against waking up from a deep slumber in the middle of a comfy bed. It wanted to lie down again and savour the feel of a silky bed beneath, tired of being subjected to the torture of lying on benches and concrete floors.

I looked around, recognizing all the expensive furniture present. Wyatt's room. The colour of the walls was the same old grey and white. The room was exactly like how it was the last time I visited. No pictures hung on the walls, except for this one painting above the bed. Two birds flying away together above the forest.

We had chosen that painting together.

I stood up, walking towards the window sill on the other end of the room, covering an entire wall. This used to be our favourite spot, standing here looking out at the open sky, the lush green grass spread throughout the Dawson's estate. Beyond the residence there was a huge expanse of trees and if one looked hard enough, there was a faint sketch of mountains out beyond. I was the one that pointed it out to Wyatt, he promised we would go there sometime.

Too bad that sometime never came.

Too bad we never gave our love the chance to blossom.

Too bad it finished before it even started.

I griped onto the ledge in front of the window. I had to get out of here, before my thoughts suffocated me.

The door handle turned, and I whirled around as Wyatt stepped in. I scanned him from the bottom to the top. His suit coat and tie from the bar were missing. The top two buttons of his shirt were open, hinting at the hard chest underneath. His sleeves were rolled up and I could clearly see the muscular tan arms. It was odd seeing Wyatt like this, so fit, so muscular and so... hot. My hormones agreed with this new form, in fact they liked it very much.

This was not good for me. I was not ready to love him again... if I had stopped loving him in the first place.

Not knowing how to react, I folded my arms in front of myself, digging my nails in my flesh. I looked at Wyatt, waiting for him to say something but he just stood there looking at me.

"How are you feeling?" he said after a while of awkward silence.

"Fine", I replied. My tone monotonous, I just wanted to get out of this place now.

"I have asked Mrs. James to bring you food. The pasta will be up in few", he dug his hands into his pant pockets. I loved the way his pants tightened around his muscled thighs, and I dug my nails deeper into my arms.

"I am not hungry", I blatantly ignored the fact that he mentioned my favourite food. However it made my heart flutter to know that he still remembered. Mrs. James has been a chef in this household even before I met Wyatt, and her pastas were one of my everyday fantasies back in the days.

Wyatt sighed. "Maybe you should shower and relax a bit. The food will be here by the time you're done."

"I don't want to shower", but the truth is I desperately wanted to. I hadn't changed my clothes nor showered in four days. I probably smelled like rotten food. I took a subtle step back to increase the distance between us. I hope he doesn't smell me all the way from here.

Wyatt looked exasperatedly at me. "Please don't make this anymore difficult for me."

His words made me angry. I was being difficult? "I am so sorry to cause you such distress, Wyatt. I'll just see myself out now." And before he could utter another word, I angrily marched, past him, all the way to the door. His long fingers enclosed around my wrist before I reached it though, halting me, keeping me in place.

"I am sorry, Wynter." He made my name sound so lovely. "I did not mean it like that. I just... just let me take care of you this once and I'll drop you off to your home later on."

I don't have a home anymore, Wyatt. I thought, but I didn't dare voice it out. I could feel the tears gathering inside my eyelid but I blinked them away.

He turned me around, his eyes begging for me to stay.

"Please, Wynter. Please, just this once." His fingers were gently but firmly locked into place and I knew it would not be easy getting away from him.

I also knew that no matter how much I would stall giving him the answer, the answer wouldn't change. I was sick and tired of being with my torturous thoughts all the time, I needed an escape. Even if it's only for a while.

"Just this once", I acquiesced, and the breath-taking dimple-d smile that he returned my answer with, melted my insides into a gooey puddle.

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Thank you so much for reading!  <3