Page 87 of Ethereally Redeemed

And then, I think of Rebecca. My beautiful friend, who I barely had the chance to know, yet whose soul was as pure as a butterfly. I hope she’s now with her mother, finding happiness and peace in the afterlife.

More tears trickle down my cheeks. I don’t think the guilt of surviving when they did not will ever fade, but I must live for them.

I pull out a piece of paper from my pocket, smudged with ink from crying too much while writing it.

Dear Mom and Dad,

We survived, I think.

At least, I’m sure of it, if this isn’t some fucked up sort of other-world reality.

In any case, it’s been six months since we arrived at Everlee’s cottage, and it’s time to leave. We’re not safe staying, even as the news channels have stopped their frantic search for us. I can’t pull Draven and Everlee down into the chaos.

To say leaving is terrifying is an understatement—it claws at my skin, making me wish I could shed it all. Old memories want to resurface, but Camila has given me some great coping techniques.

Even when things were tough and spiraled, Grey never allowed me to give up. We’re on this road to recovery together. It’s hard, it’s brutal, torturous, it feels worse than what I suffered through at the dollhouse—confronting my emotions has never been my strong suit.

I’ve always believed hope was something dangerous; it leaves you crumbling apart, losing everything you thought you were. Hope can turn you to something else, only to leave you disappointed when it doesn’t work out the way you want it to. I was always afraid to hope and to love, knowing the vulnerabilities that came with it. But now, I hope, all because of Grey—it’s a wonderful feeling that eases my heart.

With Camila’s guidance, I’ve undergone something called Dialectical Behavior Therapy, which has helped me manage self-harm and destructive behaviors, along with other therapeutic methods that have significantly aided my coping. Admitting this feels embarrassing, because despite the benefits of therapy, it’s still something I struggle with and feel ashamed of. We’re working on that, too.

Grey is progressing too, perhaps even more so than I am. It’s been hard for the both of us, but he’s smiling more frequently. Seeing him at ease for the first time melts my heart. I didn’t think I could love him more, but I do. Oh, and did I mention that Draven taught him to drive?

Draven offered us both a chance to work at his company, which he co-owns with Asher, Aurora’s fiancé. We handle some of the smaller tasks, but it’s enough to help us save up and get a fresh start. We’ll work from a distance when we leave and continue our therapy sessions online, which doesn’t bother me. I’m genuinely happy.

This journey of recovery is actually healing us both. Can you imagine? I am healing. I am fucking better. It’s almost like I don’t believe it myself.

I wouldn’t have made it without Grey. He’s been my rock through everything, and I’ve been his. He pushes me to be better, to keep fighting, and in return, I do the same.

I once thought we were destined to be doomed, but you know what? Fuck destiny. I’m the architect of my own motherfucking life. And I choose Grey—today, tomorrow, and for all eternity.

We’ve survived so much. We will keep healing, and though it won’t be easy, for the first time since my father’s death, I have hope for the future.

It’s time to start living again.

“I made it, Rebecca,” I whisper, my voice cracking as I stare out at the lake. Letting the paper slip from my fingers into the water,I bury my words alongside the bracelet.

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WINTER IS GRADUALLY GIVINGway to summer, as the monotonous whites and grays transform into that of vibrant colors. Flowers bloom, trees regain their leaves, and the landscape around the cottage comes alive. It’s even more beautiful now than it was in winter. The lake is no longer icy, its water now warm enough for a swim, despite its small chilliness.

“Got you,” a male voice suddenly whispers from behind, startling me as hands gently push my shoulders. My heart races as I sit, lost in the songs of the birds and the rustling leaves. I turn to find Grey standing over me, a playful glint in his eyes.

“I could have fallen in!” I squeal as I quickly stand up.

“Maybe that was the point.” He smirks smugly.

Before I can react, he scoops me in his arms and throws me into the lake, still clothed. The water swallows me whole in a heavy mass, soaking me from head to toe, my hair sticking to my wet skin. Under the water’s surface, Grey’s laughter from above is only a muffled sound, and I fight my way to navigate up to the surface for breath. Despite the shock, a surge of joy I’m not used to fills me. I like it.

I swipe my hands over my face, clearing the water dripping down my face and blurring my vision as the droplets cling to my eyelashes. When I finally look up, Grey’s toned chest rumbles from the laughter he still can’t keep contained.

“You’ll pay for that,” I grumble, scooping up water and splashing at him. The spray hits him, drenching his clothes.

His smirk falters for a moment as his brain processes my retaliation, but it quickly turns into one full of mischief. As he chuckles darkly, my spine tingles and my core to tightens with unknown desire.

Without warning, he takes a gamble and dashes toward thedock’s edge, diving into the water with enough force to splash water everywhere. I shake off the droplets and scan the surface, searching for him. It takes seconds without being able to see him, but then suddenly, I feel a tickle at my feet.

I squeal as Grey resurfaces, his fingers slowly dragging from my feet up to my knee, and on to my thighs.

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