Teeth »ᴄɵᴍᴘᴌᴇтᴇ«

FIFTEEN

FIFTEEN

Several hours later a man appeared that I hadn't seen before. Archie said that he was one of the office workers for the school. "Valerie Kast?"

I waved my hand in the air and stood, moving over to where he stood just inside the entrance to the hall.

"Your Valerie Kast?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Here. A letter came for you today."

Taking the letter he was holding out to me, I said my thanks and opened the envelope as the man disappeared with a swish of his brown horse tail. Unfolding the letter within, I had to reread it several times. Just to make sure what I read was actually there. After reading it for the seventh or eighth time, I walked. I tried to walk past the pain, but it followed me. No matter how much I walked, the part of the heart I had left, broke and fell apart onto the floor until their was nothing left.

Those words. Black printed on white. Destructive, pain-filled words were written as though the person writing the letter had no care as to what they were writing. I heard words that made no sense, felt objects bump into me, but the objects soon moved.

The letter and envelope being ripped from my hand, made me think of what was written so carelessly.

I regret to inform you that your mother, Gill Samantha Kast has unexpectedly passed on during the late hours of Saturday night...

I knew she wouldn't, couldn't survive. I knew I should have fought harder. I knew I should have... Arms wrapped around me, stopping me. Warm. Secure. I breathed in a ragged breath, scenting Zane. It was only then that I became aware of the fat, watery tears that were falling soundlessly down my face.

"Go..." a sob tore through me "...away. I'll kill you if..." a sniffle "...don't go."

He turned me in his arms and held me tight. I was suddenly aware how Archie, Lucas, Taylor and Ryan had made a circle around Zane and myself. As I thanked them mentally, I slid my arms around Zane's neck and held on tight. Zane wasn't much taller than me and it allowed me to rest my dizzy with tears head on his shoulder, against his neck. I heard him speak soothing words, I didn't understand the words, but the tone was soothing, reassuring. Making me want to cry more because of the kindness he was showing me.

"Leave me."

"No," the one word he said was strong and sure.

"Don't want to kill you."

"If you do," he said, lifting me, making me instinctively wrap my legs around his waist. "Then I'll die happy."

I heard the words unsaid. The love in the words that were said. And it made me cry silently in both grief and love. "Your a fool."

"A stupid fool," he agreed as he started to walk. "But you'll just have to live with it. I haven't bonded with you yet."

I smiled against his neck as the tears kept flowing. Trust him to remember that, I thought. As though he could hear my thoughts, he rubbed his head against mine and I felt the smile on his lips.

I didn't know where he was carrying me, but right then, I didn't care. He was holding me, and I wasn't alone. Not right now at least. And I was grateful that he was there. I wasn't sure where I had been heading before. I wasn't sure what I'd planned to do. I hadn't been sure of anything. But now I had Zane. I didn't care where I was, or were I was going because I was already there. With him.

   

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