Broken

Chapter 11

Was Rhys right? Would she be uncomfortable when she figured out that I was holding her?

Just thinking about that possibility had my heart break into a million tiny pieces.

“Aurora,” Rhys cried out as he grabbed her hand.

She groaned again and opened her eyes a little. My heart was going to give out.

“That’s it, princess,” Rhys said softly. “Open your eyes.”

“Rhys?” she mumbled quietly.

I almost started crying when I heard her voice. I caressed her cheeks with my thumbs. I still couldn’t speak.

“Yes, princess,” Rhys said as he leaned in and kissed her forehead. “It’s me. Can you open your eyes for me?”

She frowned again.

“My head hurts,” she mumbled.

She sighed and shut her eyes tightly.

“What’s wrong with me?” she asked quietly.

Rhys looked at me and I saw tears in his eyes.

I took a deep breath and released it slowly. Rhys looked like he couldn’t speak anymore. I knew that he wouldn’t be able to tell her.

“Rory?” I called her as I swallowed the huge lump in my throat.

She tensed up slightly and pain gripped my insides.

“I need you to wake up, okay?” I continued, my voice trembling. “I need you to open your eyes so I can explain.”

I could hear her breathing pick up.

“I love you, Rory,” I said as I rested my forehead against hers. “I missed you so much.”

I really did. She was my other half and I was without her for four months. It was my fucking fault, but it still hurt like hell.

I lifted my head and leaned in to kiss her cheek.

“Come on, Rory,” I mumbled. “Open your eyes.”

She listened to me. I watched her open her eyes slowly. She kept blinking a little like she was trying to adjust to the light.

When her eyes finally met mine I was sure that my heart stopped beating. I wasn’t sure if either one of us was breathing. I didn’t care about myself but I cared about her. She needed to breathe.

I could tell that she was confused. I could tell that she was sad, but the only thing I cared about at this moment was that I could tell that she was in pain.

“Go get her a painkiller,” I said, glancing at Rhys.

He hesitated.

“Rhys, don’t make me repeat myself,” I said, tightening my jaw.

Rhys sighed and leaned in. He kissed her forehead and gave her a small smile.

“I will be right back, okay?” he told her.

She didn’t respond. She just looked at him with a confused expression on her face.

“I don’t even know what to say to you, Rory,” I mumbled as soon as Rhys closed the bedroom door. “You deserve an explanation. You deserve an apology. You deserve to see me on my knees begging for your forgiveness.”

She furrowed her eyebrows a little. I cupped her cheeks and swallowed the lump in my throat. I could feel the tears in my eyes.

I was so scared.

“But before I do any of that, I need you to think about the last thing you remember from last night,” I said, my voice breaking.

Rory studied my face for a few moments.

“You hate me,” she mumbled.

My eyes widened and I almost screamed.

“No, no, no, no!” I exclaimed as I pulled her to me. “I don’t, Aurora! I never did! I was an idiot who believed a lie, but I never hated you! I could never hate you! I love you, Aurora! You are my best friend! You are my twin! I love you!”

My voice was shaking and I was sobbing by the time I finished talking. She thought that I hated her. My own twin thought that I hated her.

I wanted to rip my own heart out.

Rhys came back into the room. I let her go and cupped her cheeks. I needed to focus on her now. I would deal with the shit I did later.

“I love you, okay?” I said quietly. “I love you the most in this world.”

She gulped and I saw a tear fall on her cheek. I wiped it away.

“I will explain it all,” I continued. “I promise, Rory.”

I leaned in and kissed her forehead.

“What is the last thing you remember?” I asked. “I need you to tell me.”

She was still for a few moments, but then she tensed up and dug her nails into my upper arm.

“Oh, my God,” she cried out.

I closed my eyes and tightened my jaw.

She knew what happened. She remembered it.