02-10-2025, 11:55 AM
What Hayden was saying she knew, but it helped a little to hear it all. She could be herself. Her records in the Atharim would be gone. She would be free. Right now, everything still hurt. She now had time to figure things out, and at this point didn’t plan on leaving unless Nox kicked her out.
They arrived back at the building and Hayden asked if she wanted him to stay. She did. The kids would probably be at Kallisti. That was a kind of blessing. They didn’t have to see her like this. Elyse didn’t want to be alone either. She hoped Hayden wouldn’t mind. She was sure he had better things to do than take care of her.
”Please,” she said, a slight tremor in her voice betraying that she thought he might refuse even though he had offered. ”I probably won’t be a lot of fun to be around though.”
She took him upstairs to her room. It was her space and the decor reflected that. She had taken his advice, and the building was starting to look more like a home, but this space was truly hers. Marta’s gift to her was on her table. A wolf painting decorated a wall. Her curtains were yellow. It wasn’t much, but it was hers, and right now she felt safest in this room.
A couple pieces of paper lay on her bed by the pillow and Elyse picked them up to find one of Marta’s drawings. It shows her and Marta with Splash looking from below. All three were smiling. The second was a note in Marta’s hand.
Elyse,
I’m sorry you’re sad. If I could do anything to make the sadness go away I would. I hope this drawing makes you smile a little. I don’t remember my mom anymore, but I like to think she was a lot like you. I love you so much.
Love,
Marta
PS - I have to tell you about the Dream sometime.
Elyse sat down on her bed, and began to cry unable to believe how lucky she was that Marta had become part of her life. She had so many reasons to be filled with hate, but she wasn’t. It was then Elyse knew she would be fine. Even if it took a bit.
She turned to Hayden, wiping the tears away. ”You can take that shower now if you’d like. I can go after. Then maybe some lunch after?” she didn’t want to talk about what happened yet, but she had to say something before things went farther. ”I need you to make me a promise. The same one Nox made to me when I agreed to this. If he tells you how he did it, you never tell me - even if I ask. Please promise that. That goes for you too, Wicked! she said, assuming he was listening.
They arrived back at the building and Hayden asked if she wanted him to stay. She did. The kids would probably be at Kallisti. That was a kind of blessing. They didn’t have to see her like this. Elyse didn’t want to be alone either. She hoped Hayden wouldn’t mind. She was sure he had better things to do than take care of her.
”Please,” she said, a slight tremor in her voice betraying that she thought he might refuse even though he had offered. ”I probably won’t be a lot of fun to be around though.”
She took him upstairs to her room. It was her space and the decor reflected that. She had taken his advice, and the building was starting to look more like a home, but this space was truly hers. Marta’s gift to her was on her table. A wolf painting decorated a wall. Her curtains were yellow. It wasn’t much, but it was hers, and right now she felt safest in this room.
A couple pieces of paper lay on her bed by the pillow and Elyse picked them up to find one of Marta’s drawings. It shows her and Marta with Splash looking from below. All three were smiling. The second was a note in Marta’s hand.
Elyse,
I’m sorry you’re sad. If I could do anything to make the sadness go away I would. I hope this drawing makes you smile a little. I don’t remember my mom anymore, but I like to think she was a lot like you. I love you so much.
Love,
Marta
PS - I have to tell you about the Dream sometime.
Elyse sat down on her bed, and began to cry unable to believe how lucky she was that Marta had become part of her life. She had so many reasons to be filled with hate, but she wasn’t. It was then Elyse knew she would be fine. Even if it took a bit.
She turned to Hayden, wiping the tears away. ”You can take that shower now if you’d like. I can go after. Then maybe some lunch after?” she didn’t want to talk about what happened yet, but she had to say something before things went farther. ”I need you to make me a promise. The same one Nox made to me when I agreed to this. If he tells you how he did it, you never tell me - even if I ask. Please promise that. That goes for you too, Wicked! she said, assuming he was listening.