𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Chapter 78 | Embroidery

MIRIAM

After the water balloon fight, Sandrine, Levai and I went back to Delia's home. Renny wouldn't pry themselves away from me, as I said goodbye, and I only realised then how much I had shut everyone out since the assault.

It isolated me, and kept me away from those who absolutely loved every fibre of me. How was that possible?

The love I received during my childhood accumulated couldn't match the love these people held for me. It was powerful, how fiercely they all loved each other and was willing to protect one another in the face of danger.

That night, I allowed Levai to stay in my bedroom. He didn't sleep in my bed, but I couldn't take hearing his breathing against the door anymore, being the cause of his discomfort and backache which he tried so hard to hide.

Instead, he watched me all night, and even in my delirious state, it was the first time I hadn't seen him since the night terrors started.

"Bring the bags downstairs to the car Miriam." Delia's voice echoes, and I take Levai's luggage to the end of the staircase before he noticed.

It wasn't heavy, he never packs much, but I knew he doesn't like me carrying his stuff, regardless of the weight.

"I'll be back soon." He whispers in the shell of my ear, and I give his hand a small squeeze. "I know."

He curses under his breath at hearing Erin's whines, and walks out of the door.

No airport goodbye. No declarations of love. No tears. Just him out of the door, while I make sure Erin takes her medicine.

"Coming Miss Anderson." I turn to the locked medicine cabinet as I walk all the way upstairs, afraid to go into the master bedroom of where the whole thing started.

It wasn't the first time, but I still had an instinctual pull to bolt of the door, or to lock the door shut whenever I entered.

I chose the latter, using Erin's privacy as an excuse for doing so. "Here you go Erin." I say kneeling down in-front of her, handing her the pills in her hand.

"Thank you." She utters, taking the little blue pills into her mouth. "You're the only one who doesn't baby me here."

I offer her a little smile, as she grunts as she swallows the pills. That was something I came to know about her, she hated the feelings of the pills going down her throat. Turns out, she won't bite you if you don't force her mouth open to check she's swallowed them, who knew?

Sticking her tongue in and out to show she's taken the pills I stand up, readying myself to take her downstairs.

"Your phone is doing that beeping thing again." She grunts, and crawls under the sheets of her bed.

I was hoping to ignore the vibrations in my pocket, but I knew that that wasn't exactly an option.

"Answer it before I throw it off the balcony child." I've come to appreciate Erin's muffled proclamations, as I open her door, answering the call.

"Hello?"

"Hi Miriam, it's Sarah. Just had my first day at the University." It seemed that everyone was having their first days, as all my friends went to their induction classes and even Lizbet left her spawn downstairs to attend her first class.

"Hey Sarah, how was it?" I try to keep my voice down as I enter my bedroom, focusing entirely on her voice as I walk down the stairs that toy with my current state of mind.

"Absolutely incredible, you have to visit." She purrs on the other end.

We hadn't stopped our communications since Levai had left Madrid, but I had made a promise that day of the water balloon fight to stop ignoring the calls of the people in my life.