Etched

Chapter 35

"Where were you the whole day?" I asked him. My head was resting on his shoulder as we sat against the huge sliding glass door of the balcony, gazing at the sky. Gabriel's hand was wounded around my waist and we were sitting in silence.

"Beach" he replied sighing. My fingers fiddled with the button of his dress shirt. He was at the beach and he'd spent his day alone. It was such a difficult time for him, I wish I were there to sit close to him, to hug him and distract his mind from everything then. He wasn't even in the office other than...

"But then you came for my presentation" I said abruptly and raised my head looking at the side of his face.

"Yeah, I did" came his reply, his eyes gazing casually at the night sky. Now that he mentioned his visit to the beach is when I am noticing his windswept hair. He was always so striking, it was usually difficult to point out something irrational in his outlook, everything looked perfect and not vividly disparate.

But what I didn't understand is that why did he come? He was going through so much and all his reactions made so much sense now that I know the significance of the day to him. I would've understood had he told me later and not attended it. It is something else that I needed him at that time and he made all the difference but nothing was worth being selfish enough to have him be in a terrible mental state yet arrive for work. He left after my presentation. So does that mean that he came only for me...?

"Why?" I asked softly. My heart was slamming against my chest at the view that had shone over my mind. I was almost holding my breath as I waited for him to answer.

"Couldn't miss it for the world" he said looking at me with tender green eyes. His words so sincere that they rendered me speechless. My eyes were unblinkingly looking at him, attempting to drown in the compassion they inhabited.

"Don't be so surprised" he gave a slight smile, continuing to look at my face. My heartbeats were racing and my face appeared to be in stupor.

"You were going through so much yet..." My voice seemed foreign, it was scratchy from the emotional barrage in withheld inside and from my stupefied state.

"Yet I came yes now don't make it a big deal. And first I thought I wouldn't be able to pull through but for you, I had to." He replied, tucking my hair behind my ear.

I was speechless, I didn't know what to say. It was overwhelming to me extremely. Understanding his situation and with whatever must be going on with him and having to know him make an exception because the presentation was important to me was a very different feeling.

"I-" I started but I couldn't say anything. It appeared as though words deceived me as I was so inundated by the revelation.

"Hey, it's not a big deal" he said placing a kiss to my temple and assessing my reaction. He noticed the emotions on my face and he was so easy to brush them into nothingness as if it was really no big deal for him to do something so grand. 

"Gabriel, thank-"

"No thank you's" he stated in a firm voice. He really isn't taking it to be a big deal but it is for me... He has no idea how his presence had helped me climb out of my nervousness and face everyone with confidence.

"But..."

"Nope!" I was about to scream with the feeling I felt therefore I just wrapped my arms around him and snuggled to his chest, expressing my gratitude without words. I tightened my hold on him. It was so comfortable to stay in his embrace breathing in his scent. 

It felt like I was protected, far far away from anything harmful. His arms were cocooning and assuaging, like a blanket of warmth.

"Wait" I pulled away and stared at him, my forehead knotted. "You said you were on the beach the whole day?"