Page 176 of Scarred

Doubt slowly creeps in, and the fear I’ve had rises to the surface, wanting to suffocate me.

“What if loving me is too much for him? What if…” I swallow down the emotions that want to drown me. “What if his heart is too scarred to ever completely belong to me?”

“Take it from someone who’s been scarred and married someone who was shattered…your heart is more resilient than you know,” she says, softly.

“So what do I do?” I whisper.

“Give him a couple of days. He’ll realize what everyone else already knows,” she says with a lightness to her voice. “His heart already belongs to you, Luna. He just needs to realize that he deserves yours, too.”

We say our goodbyes, and I promise to keep her updated before hanging up.

Pulling up his last text, I stare at it as if I can somehow will another message to come through.

But all I get is silence.

I watch the blank screen for another minute before setting my phone face down on the desk.

Pushing my food aside, I leave my office and walk down the hall to the one place that always makes me feel better.

Slipping off my shoes, I pull my hair up into a bun as I walk across the wooden floor. I choose a song that’s haunting to match my mood before getting into position.

When the music starts, I let my body portray what my heart is feeling.

Each landing jars my body, but I keep moving.

My lungs burn from exertion as I miss a turn.

I don’t stop.

Every turn leaves me searching for someone who isn’t there.

Every landing reminds me that I’m alone.

But it’s not just my pain I’m dancing through as I drop to the floor before rising back up and reaching for something that isn’t there.

I feel his too.

Every movement becomes a conversation between us.

My heartbreak.

His guilt.

My fear.

His grief.

I leave it all on the dance floor.

Hoping that somehow, he feels me fighting for him.

Even from a distance.

And the love I can’t give him today…will still find its way to him.

FIFTY-TWO

CAYDEN