Page 31 of Save Me

All of the notes Argent used to leave me, scattered over my bed like confetti of emotions. I frown, a mixture of sadness and amusement, as I lean down andgather them in my hands. Rereading every single one, each word carries a piece of our story.

A chuckle escapes my lips, a bittersweet sound, as I shake my head at one of the first notes he left me.

I hope you don't bring that pretty boy home – A

Hesitantly, I turn over the note, my fingers trembling as I feel the weight of it in my hands. A knot forms in my stomach as I stare at my own handwriting, the words mocking me.

He got what he wanted – S

A rush of memories floods my mind, the images vivid and painful. Tears well up in my eyes, blurring my vision as I struggle to read the note before angrily shoving it onto the bed.

I storm out of the room, my footsteps echoing through the empty hallway as I make my way to the kitchen.

Opening the cupboard, the dim light reveals the familiar shape of the bottle of bourbon. Frowning, I slowly wrap my hand around the cool glass.

I remember there being more than this when I last had some. Dismissing the thought, I unscrew the cap, the smell of the dark alcohol instantly filling the air.

I take a big gulp, the burning sensation traveling down my throat, causing me to scrunch up my nose in discomfort. But the pain is somehow comforting, so I take more and more gulps, trying to drown out the memories that haunt me.

About an hour passes, the silence broken only by the sound of my heavy breathing and the distant hum of the city outside. Suddenly, the sound of a car coming to a halt in front of the house reaches my ears. I’m sprawled out on the couch, my body heavy and unresponsive. The bourbon has consumed me, numbing my senses.

The door opens, and I am met with Argent stepping through, his presence both familiar and confusing. I struggle to focus, my vision blurred and hazy.

Eyeing him confused, I muster all the energy I have left to sit up, my limbs feeling like lead. “How t-the hell did y-you find me?” I stammer, my voice slurred and unsteady.

“The camera in your room,” he says softly, his voice barely audible above the pounding in my head. He takes calculated steps toward me, his movements careful and deliberate. “It sends a notification to my laptop whenever it picks up movement.”

I let out a laugh, my voice filled with bitterness. “You’re drunk, Starlet,” he remarks, shaking his head as he takes a seat next to me on the couch. “How convenient,” I scoff as my head falls back onto the couch.

“What's that supposed to mean?” He asks, snapping his head towards me.

“If it notifies you, how was it possible that you weren’t here when Zavier came and took everything from me?” I seethe, my voice dripping with venom, as I lock my teary eyes on his. His face falls, his features contorting with guilt, as he stares back at me.

Silence hangs heavily between us, amplifying the tension in the room.

“Where were you, huh? Why didn’t you help me? Why weren’t you here?!” I shout, my words laced with pain. Tears stream down my face, my voice trembling with hurt. My desperate eyes implore him to respond, to offer any explanation, any justification.

But he remains silent, his silence a damning admission.

“I—” he starts, his voice trailing off, before abruptly shutting his mouth. His throat bobs as he swallowshard, the weight of his unspoken words palpable in the air. I wait, my heart pounding in my chest, for him to provide some semblance of an answer.

“Answer me!” I demand, my voice cracking under the weight of my emotions.

“I’m sorry!” he snaps, and I flinch at the sharpness of his tone. Sorry? Is that all he has to offer? Another bitter laugh escapes my lips, mingling with my sobs, as I shake my head in disbelief.

“Do you have any idea what he has done? No, you don’t!” I cry out, my voice filled with anguish. “You have no fucking idea what I had to go through. How many times I have prayed and begged for it all to end?” Despair washes over me, and I bury my face in my hands, the weight of my pain too heavy to bear.

“You’re right,” his voice breaks through my sobbing, his words a solemn confession. I slowly lift my head, my tear-streaked eyes searching his face for any signs of understanding.

“I can’t even fathom what you’ve been through. But I can tell you what I went through.” His voice is low, filled with raw vulnerability.

“I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t sleep,” he admits, his voice heavy with remorse. “I came to this very place every night, lying on your bed, desperately clinging to any remnant of you. I cried for the first time in years... for you.” His confession hangs in the air, his green eyes locked with mine.

I remain silent, my gaze unwavering, as the weight of our shared pain fills the room.

“I never stopped looking for you, little star,” he whispers softly, his gentle touch tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear.

A wave of guilt washes over me, realizing how unfairly I blamed him without considering his own pain. Zavier didn’t just ruin my life, but also the lives of the people I love.

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