Belle Stone

Part 20

Belle and Mark spent the whole day together. Every time he tried to move away from her she clutched onto him tightly. Her arms wrapped around him holding him close. Such a hasty action startled him. It brought all of the air from his lungs out. There was no tenderness in that touch. It knocked him towards her. Her squeeze created more pain than he thought she was even capable of creating. Even going to the bathroom was a tasked that needed permission. She was terrified of being left alone again. He understood that. That is why he never said anything about the uncomfortable ache of her touch. It was a deserved pain. He had left her when she needed him the most. She wouldn't let it happen this time.

The night came. After a long conversation, Belle slowly started to drift away. A few yawns escaped her as she laid her head down. Her eyes closed, unable to stay open for any much longer. She had fallen asleep. Today was a tiresome day for her.  Mark was impressed she even got this far without drifting to somber. He looked over her. Calm. She was peaceful at last.

It was finally his opportunity to leave. He carefully brought himself away from her. Slowly, he gathered his weight on one side of her bed before standing up. Every footstep he took was calculated. He was shifting his weight from one leg to another cautiously. He didn't want to make any sounds that would wake her. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough. Just as he was about to open the door Belle spoke up. She served the absence of his heat around her. Hypersensitivity that was formed from the last time she was left alone couldn't miss anything. Her eyes were still closed, her voice was so silent and muffed but he understood what she wanted to say.

"Where are you going?"
"Home. It is time for me to go."
His tone matched hers. A faint whisper traveled around the room. Anything louder would break the fragile lullaby of the night.
"You're leaving me again."
Her eyes opened. Tired tint decorated them as she bore into him.
"No, princess. I am just going to sleep at home."
He got closer. The distance he traveled for so long was crossed in seconds. He placed his big hand on her cheek looking deep in her eyes.
"That’s still leaving."
She was too tired to sound accusing but the words still struck him.
"But I have to go."
His excuse sounded too weak even to him. The last part of his sentence turned inaudible. He diverted his gaze away from her. His hand fell off of her cheek as he spoke aware of how insensitive he was sounding.
"What if the monster comes back?"
The k pierces the heavy blanket of silence laying upon them. Her voice broke. It was fear-induced. His eyes snapped back to look at her.
"Come on, you are a big girl. Monsters don't exist. It was just a bad dream."
A small smile garnished his face. An indication that everything is okay.
"Okay, then what if I have a bad dream again."

She demanded. Not this time. There is no way she is staying alone this time.
"Just remember that it is fake and that it can't hurt you."
"Can't you just stay?"
"I would but I have some work to do." "What kind of work?"
Her curiosity was not surprising. He expected it from her but his brain couldn't make a quality answer. Not now. He couldn't tell her the truth either. It was a surprise.
"You don't really need to know that. It is not important."
"Don't go..."
"Belle... Please..."
He was pleading her as much as she was pleading him.
"No, dad. Why do you have to go? Tell me."
The conversation brought back some of her energy and for the first time, the tone was raised.
"I am searching for your mother."
He couldn't do it. He couldn't keep it from her anymore. That secret was already deteriorating him. It made him hurt her once already when he left her to deal with the traumatizing dream alone. He wouldn't let it hurt her again.

Belle jolts awake. She sits straight up. Suddenly,
she doesn't feel sleepy at all.
"What?"
And just like that, the magic of the night is completely gone.
"You heard me."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because... I don't know. I just wanted to find her and talk to her first."
He spoke sincerely. It only infuriated her.
"She is my mother, you know. Isn't it fair that I am the one to find her?" "Belle..."
She didn't listen. She didn't want to. The girl looked straight ahead in disbelief.
"I want to go."
She jerked her head towards him again.
"Belle, please..."
"No. Whatever you are going to say, I disagree. I have always listened to you, dad. I always obeyed your rules, always respected you. Don't I deserve to go meet her? I want to know her. I have so many questions I need to be answered. Please, dad, I have to go. I need to."
Her accusing tone turned pleading really quickly. Her hands grabbed his and tugged them ever so slightly.
"I don't know... Are you ready?"
"I am. I most definitely am. I have been ready ever since I read that letter."

Mark questions it. He beings inspecting her. There was strong emotion behind those words, straight confidence shined from within but yet again this is the girl who just seconds ago couldn't stay alone because of a nightmare. That was such an immature response taking her age into consideration. How can she come? How can she handle finding out her mum is dead, if she is, when she can't handle a bad dream? Her eyes pleaded him. They were filled with determination. That was not enough for Mark but he couldn't tell her the real reason he didn't want her to go. She was already traumatized today. He didn't want to scare her even more with the possibility of her mother being dead.

"Dad?"
She called out to him thinking he zoned out. As he heard that voice it made him even more insecure. Just a second ago it was so quiet and weak. It is so easily broken. It easily shakes up and becomes small. No matter how big and strong it sounds now, it can break within seconds. Belle could see through his concern. Becoming really close made them feel what the other is feeling and understand the pain and worry of one another.

"I know what is your concern. I can take it. Even if she is dead I can take it, dad. Just take me with you."
The word dead shakes him up. It is usually such a heavy word being said normally. In these circumstances, it is even heavier. He thought she was unaware of that. He avoided the truth behind his concern for nothing.
"Where did you get that from?"
Mark questions her wide-eyed, totally, and immensely surprised by her.
"The letter. I know what 'I am gone. I don't deserve to live in the same world as you' means. I am not dumb, dad."
"That is not what I meant. You... just... You always have questions about stuff for me. I didn't think you knew."
He was left speechless but he had to speak. It was hard to form sentences when you are flabbergasted. So his voice couldn't help but tremble and his words piled up on each other. He didn't know what he was saying or how he was saying it.
"It is okay. I understand. That doesn't even matter now. Just answer me already."
She was in a rush. Her teasing manner wasn't reciprocated as such. She thought it would be. That would have sped things up but it didn't go as planned. She was left to reassure him and jump straight to the point.

After this shock, this revelation that Belle actually can be mature, no scratch that, is mature, he decided to let her come. He just stared at her for a few moments. Maybe he misjudged the nightmare, maybe it was that kind that could scare even an adult. After all, it was her mother. Mark was now sure of his decision.

"You can come."
He spoke with authority after finally gathering himself from his shocked state. She flew in his arms and gave him the tightest of hugs. The one where he was barely able to breathe, while repeatedly saying thank you. "So, when are we going?"
She pulled away just to ask while still holding on to him.
"Tomorrow. I will pick you up after school. Now sleep, you'll need energy."
She hugs him once again. As she let's go she quickly lays herself down. Mark chuckles, unable to hold back his amusement.
"So do you still need me to stay?"
"No, no, no. You can go. Better yet, the earlier you go the better."
"Are you sure? What about the monster?"
"Come on dad. I am a big girl. Monsters don't exist."

Mark smiled while shaking his head in a disapproving manner. He stands up from her bed and goes towards the door as he grabs the handle he turns back to her once more.
"Good night princess."
A soft tone from before the magic was broken leaves him.
"Good night."
Belle replies the same way. There is a smile on her face. She was proud and satisfied and so was Mark. After that, he left home making a plan of tomorrow's action in his head.
To be continued...