Illuminated By The Darkness

Chapter 24 (part b)

Tiara:

I was sitting on the garden chair holding my head looking at the beautiful flowers, but I couldn't enjoy because of my throbbing head.

"Here" there was a hand in front of my face with two Advil.

"Thank you so much Marcus" I said and smiled.

"Hey, it's just Advil"

"No, I mean for everything."

"I'm glad that Vicky called me and trusted me with your safety. Also I'm thrilled to spend time with you" he said.

I was at Marcus' place. It was he who came to fetch me from the café. But Vicky was the mastermind playing behind it. So far he has been so kind to me. He is trying everything to make me feel comfortable.

I'm trying to adjust to this place, but I it doesn't feel right. I miss them. I miss him.

What will Eugene do when he finds out I'm not in his house? Will he miss me? Will he come after me? Or will he be relieved that I'm finally out of his life?

I don't like this feeling. I wanted to run away and now that I have, I don't like it. All this fuss has given me a terrible headache.

"Where did you go?" Marcus touched my shoulder.

I flinched and pulled away.

"I'm sorry. I didn't...um...mean to" I tried to cover up but failed miserably at it.

"It's alright I would be paranoid too if I had people chasing my tail" he tried to joke but I became uncomfortable.

He was right I had people after me trying to end me, torture me.

"Sorry I didn't want to make you feel bad." Marcus said I just nodded.

An awkward silence surrounded us.

"Um... You have a beautiful garden here" I said killing the silence.

"Thank you. Which flower did you like the most?"

"The yellow roses" I said.

I said that because that was the only flower I knew by name. The yellow roses were really nice but not the nicest or the most beautiful in this garden.

"I like the marigold" he said

"They... they are nice too" I just nodded not knowing which one marigold is. I did not miss the way Marcus eyed me.

"I also like bambi" he added and I was clueless all over again.

"Me too" I said.

"Really?"

"Yes. Why?"

"Because I just made that up. There is not a flower named bambi in my garden or in anybody else' garden" He rolled his eyes.

I was so embarrassed. I could feel the rushing towards my face and I looked away. The last thing I wanted was for him to laugh at me.

"You don't know any of these flowers do you?" he asked.

I shook my head.

"I don't know. Go ahead you can laugh at me" I said and waited for him to break into fits of laughter.

To my surprise he did not do that, instead he stood up from beside me and offered his hand for me to take.

Hesitantly, I took his hand. Pulling me up he walked towards the flowers and I freed my hands from his hold.

"That is marigold" he said pointing towards a bunch of flowers that were in different shades of orange and yellow. "My favorite" he smiled.

"They are beautiful" I smiled with gratitude. I was so thankful that Marcus didn't make fun of me rather he was helping me.