CHAPTER NINE - THE TRUTH BETWEEN US
324 Words
Liam was in his art studio-an abandoned apartment space he’d turned into a sanctuary. Half-finished canvases leaned against the walls. The smell of oil paint and turpentine filled the air.
But he wasn’t painting.
He was staring at a photo Naomie had sent him-nothing special, just a candid shot of her laughing during their walk from the bistro. It was blurry, off-center, but to Liam, it was art.
His phone buzzed. It was a text from Naomie.
“Can we talk?”
They met at the park, the one near Naomie’s apartment, where the city lights faded into trees and the night air was calmer.
She didn’t waste time. “Someone from my past called me.”
Liam straightened. “Who?”
“Kelechi.”
Liam didn’t know the name, but the way she said it made it sound like a weapon.
“He... hurt me,” Naomie said, her voice low. “Not just emotionally. It was bad. I thought I left that part of my life behind, but now he’s calling again. Threatening me.”
Rage flared in Liam’s eyes, but he didn’t speak yet. He waited.
“I’m telling you this,” Naomie said, “because I don’t want lies between us. I’ve had enough of those. If you’re going to walk away, do it now.”
He stepped closer. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“But”
“I’ve done terrible things too, Naomie. Things I wish I could erase. But we’re not our pasts. And if you trust me, I’ll stand beside you. We’ll face this together.”
Naomie’s chest rose and fell with shaky breaths. “You sure?”
Liam nodded. “I don’t run. Not anymore.”
She looked at him, really looked, and for the first time since Kelechi’s call, she felt something stronger than fear-hope.
The truth had been shared. The ghosts had been named.
And now, together, they would begin to fight them.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD