So this is Love ● The Beast

{8}

I gasped for breath, I could feel tears streaming down my face as I finally neared my home. My limbs shaking as the guilt I felt poured through me, pushing me to turn these reins around and find my sister, my family. I closed my eyes willing these thoughts to back of my mind to no avail, I let out a sob in my effort before they blurred my vision.

I could see the candle lights that were beginning to go out from the lack of wax holding it up, the winds had become nearly nonexistent although it was still considerably cold. I could see the sun rising from the distance, the dark sky turning a mixture of blue and red from the variation of color.

I could hear the pounding of my heart in my ears and as easily as Festus's hooves hitting the ground beneath me, I trembled like never before as I felt my  hest constricting painfully. Festus slowed as we reached the front door, I pulled on the reins gently, feebly. I was tempted to ride off into the night, ready to run away from the news I'd be sure to break to everyone.

As I stepped off the horse, I wondered what they'd say when they saw it was me and not Josette. Would they be disappointed that their favorite child had come home? Would they send me back know to get her if she wasn't already dead because of me?  How would Poppy and Finnegan take the news?

I stepped up onto the front steps and turned the handle of the wooden door, it popped open with ease and with an unfortunately loud creek, I winced and I knew that I must've awoken everyone in the house. As I stepped inside however, I knew that wasn't the case.

Papa, Poppy, and Finnegan were all seated at the table, having a few measly bowls of boiled potatoes and butter. At the sight of me, they stood from the chairs with a resistance screech from the wooden posts before rushing towards me. Papa limped over with a wide smile, something I haven't seen in a long time especially from him. He embraced me the moment Poppy ran into me wrapping her arms around my waist crying with happiness.

"Lucille!" They cried, "Oh you're alright!" Papa exclaimed putting a hand to my cheek checking for bruises, scratches, or any indication of an injury that I had sustained during my journey. His simple action made me wonder why I hadn't done the same when Josette had arrived to rescue me, sure I had cried for joy, but that was for myself. I hadn't checked for cuts, bruises, or even snow flakes in her hair, come to think of it, her face had been turning a fair shade of blue from the cold, her fingertips had frostbite and her clothing had been tattered beyond repair. "You must be exhausted, come sit down!" Finnegan smiled widely before taking my coat, tossing it on top of the chair he had been sitting on.

Papa took my hand directing me to a seat at the table, I stiffened as I sat in the chair that used to be across from mine, it was pulled out and faced towards the door. This was Josette's seat, and as I turned I looked at mine, the same one I had stood up in to tell her just how selfish and horrid she had always been to me. Josette, the selfish sister of mine, who came to rescue me at the risk of her own life. "I'm gone for half a week and you're already getting lost without me." Finnegan joked with his arm's crossed but, I could still see the way his dark brown eyes watered in relief.