Page 274 of Unravelling The Beast

It’s been six months since we lost Arlo, and me and Cree are finally ready for our new beginnings ahead of me due to give birth very soon. I place the key into the door of our new home with Cree on my hip and hold the door handle in my hand as I peer down at him with a smile on my face.

“Are you excited to choose your own room?”

He gives me a cheeky smile back with a nod, and I push it down, and we enter. Cree wriggles down from my arms as I walk forward and glance around before placing him on the floor.

I smile softly as he climbs the huge, white staircase, excited to see where he can put his new furniture and toys. As I take a slow step forward, I notice a twinge of apprehension and unhappiness in my stomach as I glance around the big, empty white mansion.

It's too bright, too warm, and too welcoming. It reminds me of everything I was when Arlo was here, but not now that he isn't. That's probably why I chose it: it was bright and exquisite, but now I want everything black to reflect who I am and how I feel. It's strange how rapidly things shift in someone's mind after something so traumatic. I'm evolving into Arlo.

I slowly walk up the flight of stairs until I reach the beginning of a long corridor, where Cree peeks around a doorframe.

“Wren! Come here! I like this one!”

I smile and continue going until I reach the doorway, at which point I enter and glance around the large, empty space.

“Wow, it's perfect for you, Cree!”

“Let's look for one for you and my sister!”

He grabs my hand as he runs past me, and as he pulls me, I stumble with a laugh. We go through most of the doors until we enter the largest room in the house.

“This one should be yours! It's big!”

I place my hand in his hair, stroking his soft loose curls as I gaze around, tears welling in my eyes.

“I think you're right.”

The thought of sharing this room with Arlo and creating new memories hurts me profoundly, but I attempt to shrug it aside while inhaling deeply.

“Let's see about your sister.”

Turning around, I spot a door just opposite this one, which I enter with Cree skipping beside me.

I stop and glance around the not-to-big but not-to-small room.

“I think this will be perfect for her, and she will be close enough to me! What do you think? We could move in at the weekend.”

He smiles up at me, and my eyes soften as I kneel in front of him. We search each other's eyes, and I take his little hand in mine while speaking softly.

“We're going to have so much fun here, Cree. We're going to make many amazing memories. We three as a family.”

“You won't leave me too, will you, Wren?”

My eyes well up instantly, my heart shattering before I bring him into me, and we embrace with a tight hug.

“Never ever, baby.”

“I'll always be here for you, and just because Mommy and Daddy aren't here doesn't mean they're not watching over us and looking after us like angels do.”

He nuzzles his face into my neck as he speaks.

“I love you, Wren.”

I sigh with my eyes closed and squeeze him a little tighter.

“And I love you too, son. So much.”

Carmella

---