Page 38 of Twisted Thorns

It wasn't long until sleep settled over me like a soft blanket, and for the first time in months, I simply dreamed.

I awake to the rich scent of coffee, and my mouth waters at the thought of sugary caffeine on my tongue. I stretch languidly, my body pleasantly sore as memories of the night before flash through my mind—Kieran's hands and mouth exploring every inch of my body, his whispered promises and fervent pleas ringing in my ears.

"I dreamed of you, even when you didn't dream of me. It's always been you, Avalina. Always you."

The creak of a door made me turn. Kieran emerges in the doorway, dressed once more in dark jeans and a black shirt. His hair is mussed from sleep, his gaze intense as it settles on me.

"I brought you coffee," he says, holding out a steaming mug.

Sitting up with the sheet around me, I reach out for the cup of divine nectar. "Trying to get on my good side?"

Kieran's mouth quirks. "Too late for that now, Lina." His gaze dipped to the exposed skin at my neck, darkening. "I already got everything I wanted from you last night."

Heat floods my cheeks as I bring the mug to my lips. The coffee was hot and sweet, just the way I liked it. "How did you know?" I wonder aloud.

Kieran sits down beside me, his arm brushing against mine. "I've always known you, Lina. Even when you don't know yourself."

I stare at him, questions rising in my throat. I think of the familiar way he touched me, the secrets we had shared in the dark. Even though I can’t remember our time together from before the accident, it feels right, being here with Kieran. The only thing missing was my acceptance of this bond that tugged tight between us.

Sipping my coffee, a flash of insight dawns. Somewhere along the way, the memories I was missing in my relationship with Kieran began to feel less like an unbreachable mist. Curiosity burns the mental fog away, revealing the path that had been before me all along, waiting for me.

Chapter 19

Avalina

The warmth of an autumn sun that refuses to acknowledge the seasonal decree caresses my skin like a lover's lingering touch. I'm lounging on a bench in Kingsale park, the varnished wood slightly cool beneath me, as I savor the final drops of summer’s kiss. Lethargic bees hum drowsily around the audaciously blooming roses that have stubbornly pushed their way through the quilt of amber leaves carpeting the earth.

I sip my iced tea, its crispness a stark contrast to the mellow day, and let my gaze drift from the pages of the book cradled in my lap. The words dance and blend into the scenery, a tale of passion and heartache that resonates with something deep within me, something lost to the shadows of amnesia.

"Hey, Avalina!" The voice prickles at the edges of my solitude, jarring me back to reality.

Amanda and Claire come bounding towards me, their runners' high casting a glow on their faces. Sweat beads on their foreheads like tiny diamonds under the soft light filtering through the trees.

"Didn't expect to find you here," Amanda pants, brushing a strand of hair from her eyes while Claire slows down beside her, both catching their breath.

"Seems like the perfect day to get lost in a book," I reply, marking my page with a finger and setting the book aside. My voice feels out of place in the serenity of the park, like a ripple disturbing still waters.

"Are you enjoying the weather?" Claire asks, bending over to stretch her calves, her movements graceful despite the exertion.

"Absolutely," I say, watching a fallen leaf pirouette slowly to the ground. "It's as if nature itself is confused, caught between seasons." It mirrors my own inner turmoil, the old and new warring within me for dominance.

"Looks pretty decided to me," Amanda says with a grin. "Summer's having one last fling before giving up the ghost."

We laugh, and for a moment, everything feels almost normal—almost as if the accident that stole my memories never happened. But it did, and I can’t forget that, even if I’ve forgotten so much else.

Amanda's laughter fades, and she shifts her weight from one foot to the other, a familiar glint of determination in her eyes. "You should come out with us tonight," she insists, the invitation less an offer and more a command.

"Thanks, but I'll pass," I murmur, the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves mingling with the tang of my iced tea. The park's tranquility is a stark contrast to the tension that starts to coil within me.

"Come on, Avalina. It’s been ages since you joined us. It’ll be like old times," Amanda presses, her tone brooking no argument.

I stand up, brushing bits of grass off my jeans. A fluttering in my chest tells me I need to stand firm. "Old times are just that—old. I'm not the same person I was before the accident."

"Exactly why you need this," she retorts, her voice rising slightly as if volume could sway me. "You're too wrapped up in this...this solitude."

My patience frays like the edges of the book in my hands. "No, Amanda. I'm finding peace. Something I couldn't when I was constantly bending to fit into everyone else’s mold."

She huffs, planting her hands on her hips. "It's always been this way, Avalina. Why can't you just go along with it?"

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