Another Cullen Imprintee ~Paul Lahote love story~

~Chapter 35: Bittersweet Love~

ADDISON

Love is bittersweet.

I have loved him with every last bit of my soul and heart but when did I realise how deep my feelings run? When he had already left.

It was only when I was staring at his shrinking figure that it dawned on me that the man who was walking away had become my world. It was then that I realised how bittersweet love is because with every step he took, the distance between us increased and now I understand that if two people love each other, the distance between them is only defined by one word.

Hell.

Bittersweet is my love for him.

Life played a cruel hand and our relationship ran itself into ruins before love could rule. Hearts shattered to such a extent that I fear, we may not be able to glue the pieces back together but I'm going to try with every breath of life left in me.

I will piece our hearts back together and it's okay if the fragments get mixed up because the biggest truth in my life at this point is that, he has my heart. He is my heart.

The pain I felt when he left and the pain I felt when he didn't come back like he always did might pale in comparison to the pain he must have felt if he feels the way I do. A lot of our memories came and went during the past few days and with every passing memory, I always wished that he would come back with the next memory.

"Addie, his state wasn't the best last time I saw him" Jake stated nervously as he stopped the car a little distance away from Paul's house "when was that?" I furrowed my eyebrows as I looked at his front porch where not even a single light was on even though the sun had nearly set completely "the same day I found you in the forest" Jake pursed his lips and he tapped his fingers on the steering wheel and I nodded "thanks for the ride, I'll call you and let you know what's happening" I smiled slightly and got out of the car, making my way towards his front door and pushed it open slowly.

Frowning at the lack of light in the house which shrouded it in darkness, I felt around for a light switch and my eyes widened in horror when the light revealed the state of his house. My gaze ran over the numerous holes in the brick walls which had a circle of blood around them, there were shards of glass littering the vinyl flooring and the deeper I walked into his house, dread creeped through my being at the broken furniture askew all over the place.

"Paul!" I called out cautiously, my gaze lingering on the wrecked living space before I started walking up the wooden stairs and my eyebrows furrowed at a slightly ajar door at the end of the hallway. The state of this floor was hardly any better compared to that of downstairs and my jaw clenched at the haphazardly scattered glass bottles as I bent down to pick a up a bottle, turning it over to see that it was whiskey.

Just how much has he been drinking?

Pursing my lips, I straightened up and left the bottle where it was making a note to reverse the destructed state of his house. With light steps, I slowly pushed the door open and flicked the light switch on but what I saw in front of me nearly brought me to my knees. Paul grimaced at the bright light and shuffled on his back on the ground which had shards of glass all over it but he didn't even flinch at the feeling of glass piercing his skin and for the first time since I've met him, him being shirtless didn't phase me. He looked absolutely worn down with a stubble growing out on his jaw and his hair was messed up like he was running his hands through his hair continuously.

Exhaling shakily, I made my over to him and got on my knees beside him, the glass barely making any difference to me as I gingerly placed my hand on his jaw "Paul" I cursed inwardly as my voice cracked and the back of my eyes started burning "Paul, get up" I lightly tapped his cheek and his eyes slowly flickered open, narrowing as he stared up at the ceiling and groaned, blinking a few times before his gaze shifted to me and his eyebrows furrowed. Paul stared at me for a solid minute seeming confused before his eyes widened in realisation and he got up abruptly, which made me lose my balance and I fell backwards, hissing softly as a shard of glass pierced my finger.