The Shadows of Memory Lane (Book 2) [Gxg]

Chapter 32

Amia stroked the hair on his head that pooled down onto her lap. Luscious black hair. It was softer than it looked. And it looked pretty soft. She could feel the shudders that coursed through his body from time to time. She only got up when she felt his breath go steady. She gently laid his head on a pillow. She could see the tears that had escaped his eyes on his cheeks. She couldn't help but brush them away. And when she made contact with his skin, he slowly took her hand, holding it against his cheek, still asleep. She smiled, and looked at him endearingly. He was a broken child. Broken over and over again. With a pierced heart. He let her hand go and curled up with his pillow. Amia switched the lights off and walked back to her room. Cuddling her own pillow, snuggling up under her blanket. She was just about to close her eyes when she heard a sound that sent shivers down her spine. It sounded from above. Thunder. Growling in the sky. She could see lighting tears apart the sky. Ripping a path for it to kiss the ground. They were forbidden lovers. Lightning and the ground. It had to fight every time to reach its beloved. Going against the winds, the sky and the clouds. Disobeying the heavens to touch its love for even a second. But none of these thoughts flashed through Amia's mind. For she was petrified. In her eyes all she could see were large hands. Forcing her. Making her oblige. The rain, drenching her as she was dragged into a car unwillingly. The lightning lighting up the whole room from the window. The thunder making her shaking body tremble more. Feeding her fear. She paled. Adrenaline coursed through her veins. She was terrified. She let out a scream as it came. The darkness. In her mind. In her past. Replaying repeatedly. Helpless. Hopeless. "Inanna Inanna..." the name pounding in her ears. Pain. Agony. Death that she thought was bound to follow. But hadn't. And suddenly she was pulled out of the cold. Arms engulfed her. But these arms were comforting. And a name reached her ears. Not Inanna, but her own. "Amia, Amia... everything is going to be alright. I'm here now. I won't let anything hurt you. You have me."

The flashback shattered. "Juan," she breathed... and through her arms around him. Their hearts both beating fast in their chests, matching the other's. 

"What happened? Tell me... let it out... when you are ready... get it off your chest... trust me it feels good." 

"I...I... I was raped. When I was fifteen... on my fifteenth birthday actually... that's how I have a daughter. And I don't know why... but I named her Haley. The name just seemed befitting."

"When... when's your birthday...?"

"November 16th."

"Oh my Gods."

"I know... I know... Haley... Linda's Haley died on the same day."

"One created the day, the other died."

"That's the reason I feel so connected to Haley... I feel like there's a missing puzzle piece."

"Maybe I can figure it out... do you want to tell me the whole story?"

"I...not now..."

"Okay... okay... you can tell me when you need to," he placed a soft kiss on her forehead.

She lay her head on his shoulder... and slowly drifted off into her dreamworld. 

...

"I want you to meet her!"

"Okay okay! Calm down... I just want her to like me," Juan muttered.

It was the weekend. They'd all recovered partially from that Tuesday. Amia had told Linda and Jimena about Haley, her daughter... only as much as she'd told Juan, though... she still wasn't ready. Suffice to say, Linda was more than surprised. And now, she was taking all of them with her on her weekly visit, so that they could meet her daughter.