Page 54 of The Attraction

He looks sad and slowly lifts his hand to wave, and then he turns and starts walking away.

No, what is he doing? Something is wrong, I can tell. It’s not normal, why didn’t he come inside?

“Daddy!” I yell as I run to where I last thought I saw him, and the snow starts falling and the wind is whipping up.

I scream his name over and over again, but he’s not answering.

I don’t feel like I can run anymore. It’s like something just wrapped around my body, but I don’t know what it is. I can’t move, it’s keeping me still in one spot, but surprisingly, it feels good. Like I feel safe wrapped in a cocoon.

The snowstorm is getting stronger, and I’m struggling to see anything, and just as I start to feel that hug that is so calming and takes all the pain away, a face appears before me, making me scream like I’ve never screamed before.

“No, Chester. No, you took my dad, but you can’t have me too. No, stop, don’t touch me.”

His laughter is echoing in my head, but I can hear another voice.

It’s Forrest, he’ll protect me. He promised.

“Harper.”

He’s calling me from the distance.

“Please, save me, I don’t want to die. Forrest, please…”

“Harper, wake up! It’s Forrest, please, you need to wake up.”

My eyes snapping open, I see him. It’s the moment I feel like I can breathe again.

“I’m safe,” I frantically utter.

“I’ve got you. It’s okay, you’re safe.” His voice isn’t as loud as before but still sounds stressed.

I bury my head into his neck, and his strong hands rub up and down my back. It’s soothing, and I inhale his aroma. The one that makes me feel warm and precious, but at the same time, makes my heart race in a funny way.

I listen to the sound of his heavy breathing and the beating of his heart I can feel under my hand that is planted on his bare chest. The light whisper of him repeating over and over that I’m safe and he will protect me, it’s comforting. My senses are starting to settle, and I’m surprised I’m letting him hug me…

“Wait, what are you doing in my bed? Why are you hugging me? What is happening?” I start yelling and trying to push away from him, but he won’t let me.

“Harper, stop!” His deep, harsh voice makes me halt and look at him. “I have been holding you in your sleep every night since your first nightmare.” He looks at me, waiting for my reaction, but I can’t process what he is saying.

“You’ve been in my bed every night with me and didn’t tell me? How dare you, get out.” I push against him again, and this time he lets me. “Get out, get out, get out!” I’m screaming and crying at the same time.

Scrambling backward, he stands next to the bed.

“Just breathe, Harper, just breathe.” His hands are up, trying to calm me.

“Breathe? Don’t you tell me to fucking breathe. You have been in my bed every night and I had so fucking idea. What the actual fuck, Forrest.” I can’t process this.

“Let me explain.” He tries to gain my attention, but I’m too busy losing my mind over what he just said.

“No. Just leave. I can’t hear it right now.” Deep down, my heart is telling me to let him talk because there is no way he would hurt me, but my stomach is in that anxiety roll where it won’t stop.

“I’m not leaving you like this when you are so upset.” He is almost grinding his teeth with the annoyance that he is trying to hold back.

“You don’t get to make that decision. Leave or I will, and I’m not coming back,” I bellow at him as I grip my knees up against my chest, holding myself so tight.

“You can’t fight this on your own, Harper, let me help you.” He is almost begging me now, but my fight-or-flight is at its peak, and I can’t even think clearly. So, lashing out is my default.

“I don’t need you,” I scream at him, and the moment the words leave my lips, I can see the hurt written all over his face, like I have just slapped him hard.

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