Episode7
920 Words
Leona woke before the sun.
Adrian was still beside her, arm draped heavy across her waist, breath warm against her shoulder.
She lay perfectly still, eyes wide open, chest aching.
Because the heat between them was gone.
And now… reality had crept back in.
She carefully lifted his arm, slipping out from under it. His brow furrowed slightly, but he didn’t wake.
Quietly, she pulled on her robe and left the room.
Her heart thundered as she closed the door behind her.
God… what have I done?
Downstairs, the kitchen was empty.
She poured herself water with trembling hands, leaning against the counter.
But the weight on her chest wouldn’t budge.
She hadn’t meant for it to happen again.
And worse she couldn’t pretend it meant nothing anymore.
The way Adrian touched her now…
It wasn’t the old possession.
It was something gentler, Sadder. More desperate.
And it terrified her.
Because she wasn’t ready to believe it was love.
And she wasn’t sure she’d survive if it was.
Adrian found her hours later, on the garden bench, staring into the horizon.
He looked rumpled. Tired. Eyes darker than she’d ever seen.
“Leona.”
She stiffened but didn’t turn.
“I woke up alone,” he said softly.
“You were never supposed to wake up with me.”
He sat beside her. Not too close.
“I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “For everything I remember. And everything I don’t.”
Leona swallowed hard.
“Sorry doesn’t rewrite the years, Adrian.”
“I know.”
She glanced at him. “Then why are you still here?”
His voice cracked. “Because I’m terrified of losing you again.”
She closed her eyes.
“You already did,” she whispered.
Later that day,
Blaise cornered Adrian in the study that afternoon.
“You look like hell,” he said, slamming the door shut.
Adrian sighed. “Not today, Blaise.”
“Especially today.” Blaise’s tone sharpened. “You think sleeping with her again fixes this?”
“I didn’t plan it.”
“Of course you didn’t.” Blaise leaned closer. “But now you’ve cracked her armor, and if you f**k this up again, she won’t just leave she’ll erase you.”
Adrian exhaled. “I know that.”
“Then be honest with her.”
“I’m trying.”
“Not hard enough.” Blaise’s voice softened. “You can’t give her half of yourself anymore, Adrian. Not this time.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
“Tell her how you feel,” Blaise pressed. “Before she convinces herself that none of this matters.”
Upstairs, Leona paced her room.
She wanted to run. To take Alora and disappear again before this broke her a second time.
But every time she touched her suitcase…
Her hands shook.
Because the truth was she didn’t want to leave, not when Adrian looked at her like that. Not when his touch still haunted her skin.Not when Alorahad started calling him Daddy again without hesitation.
But staying meant risking everything.
And she wasn’t sure she had that kind of bravery left.
That evening, they ended up in the library alone again.
Books lined every wall. The air smelled like old pages and longing.
Adrian was tracing the spines of poetry books when he spoke.
“I used to read these to you.”
She looked up sharply.
“I remember your voice,” he continued, eyes distant. “Soft. Always late at night when neither of us could sleep.”
Leona’s throat tightened.
“I loved your voice,” he whispered. “I think… I still do.”
She wanted to speak. To say something cold, distant, safe.
But the lump in her throat wouldn’t let her.
Instead, she whispered, “I hate that you remember the good and not the bad.”
He met her gaze.
“I don’t need memories to know I hurt you.”
Silence stretched between them.
Finally, Adrian crossed the room, stopping inches from her.
“Tell me what you want from me, Leona.”
She swallowed hard. “I want to believe you mean it this time.”
“I do.”
She shook her head. “I want to believe you won’t vanish the second this gets hard.”
“I won’t.”
She looked up, eyes shimmering. “I want to trust you… But I’m terrified.”
Adrian cupped her cheek, voice breaking.
“So am I.”
Later, as they tucked Alora into bed, her tiny voice shattered them both.
“Daddy?” she asked sleepily.
“Yes, princess?”
“Will you stay forever this time?”
Leona’s breath caught.
Adrian’s eyes glistened.
He knelt beside her.
“I’ll stay as long as Mommy lets me.”
Alora smiled, already half-asleep. “Okay.”
When they left the room, neither spoke for a long moment.
Finally, Adrian whispered, “She remembers me better than I remember myself.”
Leona looked away.
And for the first time… she didn’t push him when he reached for her hand.
But that night, in the dark of her room, as she lay staring at the ceiling, Adrian’s words echoed in her mind.
Tell me what you want from me, Leona.
And her heart answered before her head could stop it.
I want you.
I want us.
But I want you to remember every scar, every tear, every fight… so if you love me again
You’ll know exactly what you’re choosing this time.
- Writer
