Chapter 14.5
1070 Words
ELIJAH
I glanced at her tattoos, and a thought struck me. "I shouldn't be suggesting this, but what if you get a tattoo over it?" I asked, my eyes tracing the beautiful artwork on her arm.
Her arm was adorned with flowers, butterflies, and other nature-inspired designs that seemed to reflect her true self. I instinctively grazed her arm with the back of my hand, and she seemed to calm down.
She nodded her head in agreement, a small smile on her lips. "I like that idea," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
I smiled back, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. "We can find a design that covers the scar, something that makes you feel beautiful and confident," I said, my mind already racing with ideas.
Ember's eyes sparkled with tears, and she leaned in, her forehead touching mine. "Thank you, Elijah," she whispered, her voice filled with gratitude.
It’s been over 10 years since she has been in my arms and I never wanted to let her go again. I know it is going to take some time but I will win her back even if it is just her friendship. I would not dare to loose her again. Even if I get shunned.
I kept feeling a vibration in her pocket, and my confusion grew. Ember sniffled her nose, pulling away to grab her phone. I glanced down and saw a flurry of messages, but they made no sense to me.
"Is everything okay?" I wondered.
"Yeah, Becky just downloaded a dating app for me today, and now I have all these men messaging me," Ember explained truthfully.
A pang of jealousy struck me, but I knew she didn't belong to me. At the end of the day, I wanted her to be happy, whether it was with me or someone else. We didn't even know if this would work.
"Oh," I tried to hide the hurt in my voice. "This is all pointless, anyway."
Ember slid her phone back into her pocket and smiled at me. My mind was racing with unspoken words and unfulfilled desires. I wanted to tell her how I felt, to take her hand and kiss her.
She waved her hand over my eyes, snapping me back to reality. "Yoohooo, earth to Elijah!" she laughed. Then she touched my scruff playfully.
My gaze drifted to her lips, wishing I could taste them again. "You're so lucky you don't have to rely on dating apps," Ember said, her voice tinged with envy.
I hesitated, unsure how to respond. "I'm sure you make your wife very happy," she added, her eyes sparkling with a mix of curiosity and innocence.
My heart sank. My fear was coming true – she thought I was happily married. I was once married, but not happily.
I smiled and shook my head. "About that..." I started to explain.
Just then, a knock at the door interrupted me. Ember's eyes widened, and she glanced at the entrance.
"Who could that be?" she wondered.
I stood up, my mind racing with possibilities. "I'll check," I said, making my way to the door.
Ember tried to hide out of view. We didn’t need anyone finding her already.
Opening the door, I was met with my little brother Jacob's concerned expression. "Eli, Lydia had another nightmare. She's calling for you," he said softly.
I nodded, feeling a pang of responsibility. "Okay, I'll be inside in a minute to console her," I responded.
I turned back to Ember, who was watching me with a mixture of curiosity and understanding. I had planned to tell her about the girls eventually, but I hadn't expected it to happen so soon.
I took a deep breath, trying to process my emotions. "I need to go," I said, my voice a little rough. "My daughter, Lydia, she's been having nightmares. I need to comfort her."
Ember's expression softened, and she nodded. "I understand," she said. "You should go to her."
I nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards her. "Thank you," I said. "I'll be be here tomorrow same time."
I closed the door behind me knowing she’d wait until I was back inside to sneak back home.
EMBER
Sitting in Elijah's office in the barn, alone, brought back a flood of memories. This place held so much significance for me - the laughter, the learning, the comfort, and the heartbreak. I remembered the times he'd comforted me after my father's rages, the night we lost our innocence together in this very room. And now, discovering he was happily married with a child, maybe more, felt like a punch to the gut.
I turned on my flashlight, casting a warm glow over the room. My eyes landed on the papers on Elijah's desk, and an idea struck. I needed to write him a letter.
After rearranging some papers, I found our old journal. Perfect, I thought. I grabbed a pen and began to write.
"Eli, I'm so grateful to rekindle with you. Tonight, finding out you have a daughter caught me by surprise. I don't want to get in the way of your happy marriage. I think I'm going to take a step back. Of course, I'll be here if you need a friend, but I think I need to start dating and find my forever. I'm sure you'll understand.
See you around,
Ember"
I placed the journal back where it was, hoping Elijah would read it soon. I closed the door behind me as I left to head home, the darkness outside mirroring my emotions.
Sliding back inside, I decided to grab a quick snack and retreat to my bedroom. Since being home, I'd been feeling hungrier than usual. Maybe it was the peaceful atmosphere, or maybe it was the absence of Paul's constant presence, making me feel insecure.
With nothing to lose, I opened the dating app. Excitement fluttered in my chest as I saw numerous messages and matches. I responded to a few, and before long, I had a few dates lined up for the week.
Mom's words echoed in my mind: "Find happiness, Ember." I took a deep breath and smiled, determination washing over me. I'd try my best to move on, to find joy again.
As I settled into bed, phone in hand, I felt a sense of hope. Maybe this was the start of something new, something exciting.
- Writer
