Broken (Sequel to Love, Ian Somerhalder)

Chapter 10

Ian's POV

"She hasn't said anything since you told her?" Arielle whispered in the kitchen with me.

"Not. A. Single. Word." I say as we looked at Riley who was sitting at the dining table staring at nothing.

"I know it hit her the hardest, but this isn't normal, Ian." Arielle accused me and I glared at her.

"The psychologist says it's her depression. She cried constantly until the funeral and then nothing, literally nothing. Sage told me it happened when their parents died." I say.

"True, but not for a month! You go and talk to her." Arielle slapped me with a kitchen towel.

"Ow! I'm giving her space like the psychologist told me." I say, rubbing my arm.

"Fuck the psychologist. She needs someone to talk with. She feels utterly alone right now." Arielle says giving me her death glare and Sapphire laughed in her arms.

"Fine, fine. Okay!" I say as she began to slap me with the towel again.

I went over to Riley shyly. Her hazel eyes were dark and swollen from crying. Her hair was in a messy bun and she looked right through me with an emotionless face.

"Hey, Riley, do you want to go to your room? We can talk there." I suggested and her eyes moved slowly to me. She got up and headed upstairs with me following her.

Each time I entered Riley's room, I always made me gasp in awe at the beauty of it. It was like an art museum, paintings and drawings stuck to everywhere until it swallowed up the walls. The lighting that came through this room was perfect.

I stopped in front of two of my favorite drawings she's done. The first was of me. It was the first time I had met Riley and I offered to drive her home. She drew me in her point of view: me in the car with the sun streaming through the window as I drove her home. It was black and white, the only color was my eyes.

Riley had told me that her mother had always told her to draw whatever she thought was beautiful. The second drawing was of course Sage.

It was a portrait of her laughing with the wind blowing her hair. I remembered when Riley did it. We were at the beach and somehow a wind storm happened. Riley pulled out her notebook and started drawing it even though sand was flying everywhere.

"Riley, I wanted to talk to you. I know this has been really hard, for all of us, but you're not alone. I love you and Sage will always be with you." I say, taking Riley's hand.

No response.

"Riley, c'mon, you have to say something. Sapphire looks up to you and what kind of example are you setting? I lost Sage and I can't lose you too." I pleaded, holding back tears.

"You're right."

I got startled by her voice. I had actually forgotten it and how much it sounded like Sage's.

"Sapphire will be the one to keep me going. She won't have a mother to grow up to, but she'll have us. Sapphire will never shed a tear because she will never experience something like this again and anyone who dares to hurt her will go through me." Riley says fiercely and I caught a glimpse of that light in her eyes I'd thought she lost forever.

***

A few days later...

I had refused to take a break from work since Sage died. It was the only thing that kept me busy and my mind distracted, but today I was nervous. Today was the last day of filming.

I went back home and smiled when I saw Sapphire playing in the living room with Arielle and Riley. She grinned when she saw me, standing up and walking up to me.

I picked her up, throwing her in the air a couple of times before kissing her face, making her giggle. My phone rang and I fished it out of my pocket, not looking at who's calling.

"Hello?" I answered while tickling Sapphire's belly.

"Ian?"

It was Marcus.

"What now?" I say, suddenly serious and the girls noticed.

"She's alive. We found Sage. She's alive!" Marcus says excitedly and I just about dropped my phone.

"This isn't funny." I growled.

"I'm dead serious, Ian. She's alive. I'm at the hospital. Come alone if you want to see her."

I placed Sapphire on the floor and ran out the door without explaining.

Sage is alive.

***
(A/N)

Okay! This is the last update until next year!!! So happy New Years! And I hope you spend it with your family, friends, and loved ones. <3