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313words
The river breeze was chilly.He draped his coat over me.“Lily,you still don’t know how to take care of yourself.”
His coat dragged at my ankles.
I realized three years had passed.The gentle boy was now a tall,striking man.
And me?Still a broken mess.
We walked in silence.
I avoided my past,unwilling for him to know,for reasons I couldn’t name.
“Lily…”
“Caleb…”
We spoke at once,breaking the quiet.
He chuckled,pure,no mockery.
“You go first,Lily,”he said,gazing softly.
The wind carried his words,my heart racing uncontrollably,like that summer when he brushed sand from my cheek,smiling shyly.
I’d lost control then,too.
“How’s life now,Caleb?”
He looked down,thinking.“It's not what I'd dreamed of, but meeting someone has given my life meaning.”
Someone…Who could it be?
My heart pounded.I tucked my hair behind my ear,avoiding his gaze.“They must be important to you.”
“Yes,Lily.Very important.”
His voice deepened,and he stopped under a dim streetlight,glowing faintly.
The world hushed—no cicadas,no chatter,just my thundering heartbeat.
His gaze was steady,his figure merging with that shy boy who’d walked to me years ago.
They'd traversed the vast ocean of time for me.
I touched my chest,heart racing,fearing it was an illusion.
“Caleb,I’m home now.You don’t need to walk me further.”
I fled,my skirt fluttering like butterfly wings.
I glanced back.Caleb stood,watching me go.
Entering the mansion,I saw Lucas outside,soaked from dew,staring.He’d waited long.
I ignored him,brushing past.
He grabbed my arm roughly,pulling me against his chest.“Lily,you just got out of the hospital, and you're already chasing after men? Have you no sense of decency?”
His touch made my skin crawl.I shoved him.“Don’t touch me!”
He sneered,gripping harder,eyes venomous.“He can touch you,but I can’t?”
His face blurred with the hospital’s“demons,”their leering eyes.I trembled,pleading,“Please,don’t touch me.”
My fear fueled his rage.He remembered my smile with Caleb,jealousy consuming him.“You’re mine,Lily.No one else can have you.”
He grabbed my chin,forcing a kiss.
I froze,horrified.
