Page 123 of Unravelling The Beast

"And what about Dad?"

"He's at work, of course, sweetie!"

I smile at her before strolling over to the table and taking a seat.

When she takes a seat across from me, I quickly hide my hand under the table.

"I haven't seen you in weeks, Wren. How are things?"

I fidget slightly before offering her a faint smile.

"Yeah, everything is fine."

"And what about the kid?Do you enjoy working there?"

My heart bleeds once more as I think about Cree and lower my eyes, losing myself in my sad thoughts and forgetting her questions.

"Wren, what's the matter, darling?You don't seem yourself, and you look really rundown and exhausted."

I don’t look her in the eyes as I respond.

"I guess I am, mom. This job isn't easy, and I think I need a short break."

When I finally look her in the eyes, they are full of concern, and I reach across the table with my unwounded palm and give her hand a gentle, reassuring squeeze.

"Honestly, mom, I'm okay. I'm sure all I need is a hot shower and a good night's sleep."

She smiles softly and gives me a little nod.

"Why don't you go do that, and I'll make us some dinner later? We can catch up with a glass of wine, just like old times."

I smile at her before standing and dragging my luggage behind me as I walk out.

When I eventually make it upstairs and into a spare bedroom, I feel like shit and completely deflated.

I just want to fall to my knees and let the darkness of Arlo's home and presence consume me. I've never felt so lost in my entire life.

I take a slow seat on the end of the bed, gently resting backwards, and gaze up at the ceiling, wondering how Arlo will react when he realizes I'm gone. Will he simply accept and think it's for the best, marry Savannah, and go on with his life as his father desires, or will I ever see him again?

As a tear falls from my eye, it slides down the side of my face into my hair, and I see Lily standing in the doorway from the corner of my moist eye.

She stands there for a bit, observing me from a distance in silence, and I continue to stare up at the ceiling. I feel like I'm only feeling a portion of what Arlo feels on a daily basis, but his struggle is so much worse. I feel like I’ve lost someone I love.

Having a shattered heart and knowing you can't be around someone you care passionately about is a hard pill to swallow, and I'm finding it so hard to swallow it right now. It feels lodged in my throat, trapped, and it's preventing me from breathing; I'm suffocating.

Lil slowly steps towards me before sitting on the edge of the bed and speaking softly.

"Wren?"

I glance at her with teary eyes, and she looks at me with uncertainty.

"You don't look so good; do you need some rest?"

My eyelids gently close, causing more tears to escape, and when I open them again, my gaze returns to the ceiling. She stands up and retrieves a blanket, which she lays over me.

"Our talk can wait; you need to sleep."

I quickly catch her wrist as she starts to leave, and when her gaze returns to mine, I speak.

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