Numb: The Postscript

IV. Confess

The bitter breeze tapped on the windows. I tried to not lose eye contact with Étienne and Noèle. Their eyes begged for my voice to explain.

"I," I swallowed. I didn't continue.

"I know what crimes you have committed, but why aren't you in the Southern Isles?"

I wanted to lie, but I've lied enough in the past, "I escaped punishment, not because I didn't want to receive it, it's because I already did. I wanted to escape the confines of that kingdom. If there's a reason why I'm here, it's because I want to live."

"Fair enough. But if someone should know that I'm harboring a missing prince," Étienne sighed, "I will face the charges... But I want you to know, I'm only doing this because I don't think you're the monster they fear you are."

"Thank you, Étienne."

"You shouldn't thank me yet."

--

After supper, Noèle took the lantern and walked me to my room. Before I opened the door, I turned to Noèle. Her eyes stared into mine. I was about to say goodnight, but I was interrupted.

"I-I need to tell you something," she took hold of my hand, warming it, and bit an end of her lip.

We paused. The night stood still just like ourselves. She spoke again.

"I have these feelings... For you."

I thought of the song she sang this morning.

This true love had just begun.

True love. That reminded me of someone. Especially since she said this within a short amount of time I've actually known her. She was waiting for my response, our hands intertwined.

"I'm sorry, Noèle... I can't," I thought of Anna, the girl who once spoke of true love, "I can't hurt you." I didn't want to hurt Noèle, like how I hurt Anna with my mistakes. I'm always making mistakes, and I didn't want to do it again. I never learn, and I know I never will. The monster inside never gives back what he has consumed of me.

Tears started to well up in her eyes, "But you won't. I know you won't." Denial and desperation became her mix of emotions. She continued, "You can't hurt me... I'm already hurt, Hans. I'm sick. And you can fix me."

Our eyes met again. Both of us saw our grief, our hurt, in our eyes.

"It's fine if you don't feel the same way I do, but...." Noèle held my hand tighter.

"I," I didn't know what to do. She smiled bashfully with eyebrows that expressed confused insecurity. It would make her happy, I thought before I shortened our distance apart.

I leaned in, and cupped the sides of her face with my hands gently. I pulled her close, her forehead close to my lips. I was reluctant to act on whatever I intended to do. We both closed our eyes. The sound of our breathing was all that I could hear. I opened my eyes once more to look at her face; it was soft but tense. I closed my eyes again. I kissed her lips briefly, but it was somehow, captivating. I stepped back slowly, and I opened my eyes to see her eyes still closed. The ends of her lips pulled up ever so slightly into a smile, exposing a minor gap between her two front teeth.

"Goodnight, Noèle," I said in a hushed voice.

She opened her eyes, her smile broadened, and she looked at me with her gray eyes glowing, "Goodnight, Hans. Or, err, Prince Hans..." She left, walking briskly back to her house.

I exhaled briefly. My lips began to tremble and then somehow relax. I didn't know how to feel, especially about how I was feeling.

I couldn't sleep that night.

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Super short chapter, but I'd have to say it has to be the most emotional so far... It's supposed to be a more intimate chapter, short and sweet. I hope you enjoyed it!

Thanks, baes! ;3