Page 103 of Scars and Burns

Almost sensing my thoughts, he answers my questions, “No one could become as good as you without taking a few hits themselves.”

Relaxing a bit. He doesn’t know after all. My secret is safe. Perhaps when they all finally leave I can continue my work.

I say that as if I am doing some great deed. I sort of am. Charity work if you will. Saving the innocent. Punishing the guilty. Only instead of a life in prison. I am simply sentencing them to death. No, need to pray for reprieve from our Goddess. I will bring them their final release.

I notice the item he is still fiddling with in his hands. My eyes almost shoot out of my head when I see what it is. It’s a flower.

My flower.

One I grew in my Mother’s garden.

I knew he had been there but I didn’t realize he had ventured so far in to find my small patch of life.

“Where did you get that?” I ask, taking the flower from his hands. Holding it up between us.

“I found it in your Mother’s garden. Saphrina informed me this morning that you grew them.”

“Yes.” I say, suddenly very self-conscious of my magical abilities exposed to him.

“It is beautiful. Now you see why I compared your eyes to the black dahlia. Both filled with mystery and intrigue. Drawing everyone into their beauty.” he says, matter of factly.

I look up at him. Our eyes meet. I feel as if my heart is about to pound out of my chest. Doing my very best to keep my breathing steady. I haven’t been alone with him since the last time we were in this very spot, four years ago.

The tension is high.

The air is different.

The chemistry has changed.

“Thank you for your kind words.” I say, still unsure how to proceed with him. Not fully processing what he’s just said to me.

“They are not just kind words. They are the truth. You are beautiful and mysterious. Your eyes hold much sadness and despair in them and I would spend every single day for the rest of my life trying to rectify the wrongs that have been done to you. To see the light that burns inside of you come to the surface.” he closes his eyes, pausing.

I’m not entirely sure what he is saying but I like that he’s saying it. His deep savory voice blessing my ears. Seeping into my thoughts.I’m getting lost in his voice. The most satisfying ballad I’ve ever heard.

“You are a rare star whose light cannot be matched.”

His words barrel through me. Those are my Mother’s words. How could he possibly know them?

Sorrow pinches my heart.

I should be angry. Should be questioning how he knows something only she would say.

But I’m not.

I feel a sense of belonging again. The way he says them. The way he is looking at me. The same loving and endearing way my Mother once did.

But somehow different.

More intense.

He says them not as inspiration to lift my spirits but as if they are aprophecyand he is speaking it into existence for all the world to hear.

As if he would speak it to me every single day until I believed it myself. Show me with everything he has, everything he is.

“Why would you say that?” My breathing is shallow. Not even able to hide it anymore. I can’t stop my eyes from drifting to his lips. Though I quickly dart them back up.

He’s watching me closely. Following my eyes. Looking towards my lips as well.

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