Page 65 of Unraveling with You

“You do help me,” he whispers. “You’re grounding me more than you know. I can’t believe I’m relatively okay right now.”

“Even if you’re not, it’s okay. Thank you so much for telling me this, but–” I breathe hard, terrified I’m about to say something insensitive. But I have to try. “I don’t want you to be strong for me. You can be my rescuer while we play, but what if, at least once, we try a scene where I can be your rescuer too?”

Remington lets out a soft, smiling chuckle. It’s not until I hear the nasally sound of his laugh that I realize he’s been silently crying. “Lilibeth, I’m literally telling you you’re rescuing me right now. You’re not seeing how sweet you’re being towards me.”

“It’s not enough. I wish I could rush into your room and protect that little Rem. Go back in time to save you. I so, so wish I could - to at least be there to hold you and heal you after. To be the one who actually showed him love.”

Remington falls quiet. I cup his cheeks, worried I’ve triggered him worse.

His body shakes beside mine, and my soul plummets. I sit up taller, ready to spring into action to help him, but Remington thrusts himself across the bed, tackling me into a hard hug. His breath shudders as he settles into deeper, heart-wrenching tears, but at least I can hold him. I hug his head to my chest with one hand, squeezing his back as hard as I can with the other.

“Thank you.” His voice quivers. “Thank you for always remembering me too.”

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“WE DON’T HAVE TO DOthis,” I say.

Remington hardly dressed up for his uncle’s funeral. He’s been alternating between moody, weepy, and numb all weekend, but now he looks plain ill.

“I have to. I know I sound like a monster, Lilibeth, but I have to see him dead to feel safe in this world.”

My heart flips, but I understand. I’m just shocked that someone else voiced the secret thoughts I’ve had about my father for decades.

Gripping Remington’s hand, I nod. “You’re not a monster. You’ve been running from a dragon since you were eight, and everyone knows you have to make sure you see how the villains die to make sure they’re truly gone forever.”

He shuts his eyes, but a slow, weary half-smile appears. “You’re right, baby. You get me.” Opening his eyes again, Remington tracks his family members as they pass by our car. He ducks his head out of view, kissing my knuckles behind the steering wheel’s cover. “Let’s just get this over with.”

We stand in the very back of the small ceremony. As Remington’s family sniffles and shares various memories about Ernesto, Remington stares at his uncle’s coffin, his expression perfectly flat.

But I can feel the rage brewing beneath his hot skin. It’s a rage I know well.

As they lower the coffin into the ground, everyone moves to say their final goodbyes.

Except for us.

I stand in silence beside Remington, staring at everyone’s agonized backs.

“Do you feel okay sharing what you’re thinking with me?” I whisper.

He clenches his jaw. "I feel like a shit person, but I hate seeing everyone so sad over him. So, basically, I’m standing here, wondering what’s wrong with me.”

“I think hating this makes perfect sense. It’s insulting to see your loved ones support someone who hurt you.”

Remington’s eyebrows flinch, but he turns to me. “You understand, don’t you.Reallyunderstand.”

I swallow hard. “I do. I love my mom, but I've felt tremendously abandoned by her for a long time for not rescuing me from my dad.”

Remington scoots a little closer, and my heart flips. Just that little step was enough of a shift to feel like we’re standing here as a unit, creating our own loving, protective barrier over our hearts.

It’s only once the dirt piles over the coffin that Remington’s shoulders finally settle. I can tell by the way he’s fidgeting that he’s sick of being here.

The second it ends, we don't stay to stick around and chat with family, even turning away from Remington’s grieving parents.

But his sister, Natalia, approaches us. She didn't cry the whole funeral, but with one look at Remington's blank expression, she bursts into tears.

Remington finally softens. He dashes to his older sister, pulling her into his arms.

“I’m so sorry, Remi.”

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