Turn Away | c.h

Chapter 63 - Both Sides Now*

13k.... I love y'all!
enjoy this chap;)
(also forewarning: CRINGEY CONTENT LMAO)

I opened my eyes, the light shining directly onto my face. My aching body laid sprawled out on the hard bathroom ground. I found the strength to sit up, glancing at the open door in front of me. A wave of panic swept through me as I noticed she wasn't there. Her clothes laid in a neat pile on the floor, yet her body wasn't covered by them. I hurriedly stood up, running a hand over my short hair.

"Stella?" I called out, walking over to our room. I pushed open the door, finding nothing but emptiness. A room full of complete nothingness. I shut the door, glancing into every passing room before walking down the stairs. I called out her name once more, but got nothing in return yet again. I was starting to feel more panic rising through me. Surely she didn't just abandon me and our house like this.

I walked through the house, but paused in my tracks as I saw the beautiful, familiar figure. My body instinctually turned towards her, admiring the way the morning light lit up her silhouette. She wore the white, long dress that she'd managed to get the wine stain out of- and even from here, I could tell the dress was the only thing covering her from being naked. She tilted in the light, letting the warm morning glow illuminate every part of her, for my eyes only.

She was different.

She had retuned to me.

I slowly walked towards her, not wanting to interrupt her effortless beauty, but I needed to look into her eyes again. I needed to feel her warm skin and her gentle touch. Stella turned her head to me, a gentle smile on her plump lips. I trailed my eyes across her body, taking her in completely.

"God, you are beautiful." I whispered to her, watching as she placed her hands on my chest. Her warm hands soothed every tense part of my body as I stepped closer to her.

"You're..." I trailed off, slightly furrowing my eyebrows.

"I missed you so much, Cal." She sweetly said, blue eyes glistening. There was finally a light being them, a life in them that I hadn't seen in a long time. It baffled me to think it was ever missing. Now, with her here, it has felt like she never truly left.

"I missed you too, Stel. I can't believe you're here- like this." I softly laughed, gently guiding her hand up. She slowly twirled around, a smile on her beautiful lips.

"I know." She whispered, as she turned to face me again. I took her in before me.

"How do you feel?" I asked, smiling back at her.

"Beautiful." She spoke, grabbing my hand and dragging me towards the edge of the patio. "Just look at it all. You can hear, smell and feel everything around you, it's amazing. I had no idea it'd be like this." I wrapped my arm around her, pulling her in towards me. Stella held me close, blue eyes lidded as he took in a massive deep breath.

"It is pretty beautiful, isn't it." I said, glancing out at the open forest before us. I hadn't had time to stop and really take it all in- I'm glad Stella was the one who gave me the realisation, that she stopped me from overlooking the beauty.

"Thank you." She mumbled into my chest, her face partly hidden. I ran my hand down her back.

"For what?" I gently smiled.

"For giving me this life."

I only held her tighter, running my hand up and down her soft skin, missing the way it felt to have her close to me- to even have her at all.

"God, I forgot what it's like to have so much energy," she laughed, pulling away. "I feel like I could run a mile."

I chuckled as I watched her turn away from me, letting out a long, deep breath. She seemed so calm and relaxed, like nothing had ever hurt her before.