Page 8 of Forbidden Knots

I continued to eat, and she continued to hum an Italian song, adding to the chills on my skin, and giving me goosebumps.

As I finished eating, I slowly stood up, bringing my plate to the kitchen.

"I will take care of it," Grandma said, taking the plate from my hand. "Buona notte," she said.

"Grazie," I whispered with a smile. "Good night," I added, walking to the bedroom.

My window was open, fresh air filling the room, and the breeze made the white lace curtains flutter above the bed. I walked to the window, and as I was about to close it, I noticed the neighbor in front of his house. He was still wearing the same hoodie, but this time I couldn't see his face, just the light of his cigarette and the silhouette of smoke passing through his hood.

I gasped, the back of my legs hitting the bed, making me stumble and fall on top of it.

I had been watching him, and now he was watching me.

"Fuck," I whispered to myself.

I couldn’t talk to Grandma, couldn’t worry her for nothing. She was already too burdened with my mom’s condition. And I couldn’t talk to Sophie, couldn’t risk making her thoughts darker than they already were. I was alone, with a stranger watching me. Alone in this haunted house, and his eyes were haunting me. I noticed they were different, but I couldn’t figure out why.

Every thought of him made my heart beat faster, adrenaline pumping through my veins. I wanted to scream, to run as fast as I could from this town. But as much as I wanted to escape, I wanted to taste him, to feel him close.

All my life, no one had ever cared enough to watch over me the way this Shadow did. I wanted to be the center of his world; I wanted his attention. And I did the stupidest thing I’d ever done in my life.

I stood up and took my dress off. The straps slid smoothly from my shoulders, and the dress fell gently over my breasts to my hips. My hands came to my hips and helped the dress down until it fell to the floor. He was standing in front of his house, not taking his eyes off me and my naked body.

At that moment, as our eyes met, I realized how stupid I was, presenting myself on a silver platter.

I knelt, gasping for air.

"Fuck.Fuck. Fuck," I muttered. "Stupid.Stupid. Stupid."

I placed my hands on my head, my fingers tangling in my hair, pulling it tight enough to feel a few hairs yanked from my scalp.

"Why did you do that?" I whispered to myself, my mouth open, still gasping for air, as my hands searched for the dress. As soon as my fingertips found it, I clutched it in front of me, shielding my body, and slowly got up to look through the window.

But he was not there.

"Maybe he’s not real," I whispered, closing the curtains but leaving the window open. "Maybe my mind is playing tricks on me."

I hurried toward the bathroom, closing the door behind me and leaning against it as my naked body slid to the ground. I wrapped my arms around myself, shielding my body from my mind.

"Why did I do that?" I whispered again. Then I stood up, walked to the sink, turned on the water, and splashed it onmy face, using a towel to wipe the drops away. The cold water made me feel awake, but as soon as I stepped into the shower and turned on the hot water, it lulled my body into a state of relaxation.

After the shower, I walked back to the bedroom and locked the door. Each step toward the bed sent a low whisper of fear down my spine. I lay down, wrapping myself in a cotton sheet, and turned toward the window. As I closed my eyes, all I could see was the Shadow. Watching me. And I was no longer alone in my darkness.

FIVE

Shadow

As she closed her eyes, I stepped closer to the bed, the soft sound of my footsteps swallowed by the rain pattering against the window. She lay there, naked under the sheets, her breathing steady and calm, unaware of my presence. My heart raced at the thought of what I would do to her, what she would do to me. In a blink, I was by her side, forbidden to touch her, to taste her, just to watch her as the object of my deepest desires. She didn't even know I was there.

Droplets of water still clung to her skin from the shower, and her hair was damp, splayed out on the pillow. She looked so peaceful, so unaware of the turmoil she caused within me. My hand hovered in the air above her body, my fingers aching to touch her, but I restrained myself. I wanted her so badly, but I knew I couldn’t. I destroy everything I touch, and I couldn’t let myself destroy such perfection.

Her full, juicy lips were parted slightly, showing a glimpse of her white teeth. I stood there, just listening to her breathe, feeling a strange mix of torment and bliss. She was like a delicateflower on my balcony, beautiful and fragile. I was afraid that if I touched her, she would wither.

I pulled my hand back to my chest, fighting the urge to touch her. But the need was too strong. I moved the sheet off her, revealing her breasts. Her nipples hardened as the cool air touched them, and I had to stifle a groan. I wanted to taste her, to make her mine. My mouth hovered above her, wishing to kiss her.

Suddenly, a thunderclap illuminated the room. The rain started to fall harder. Her eyes fluttered open, and I slipped back into the shadows. She stood up, closed the window, and returned to bed, pulling the sheet over her head. With each thunderclap, she shook, letting out silent screams.

She was afraid. My Storm was afraid. Storm, that’s what I would call her. She brought a storm into my life, so I could finally have some sun.My Storm.

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