Page 116 of Secrets & Curses of Fate

“It’s alright,” Mikel said.?

I tried to keep my curiosity to myself, but the bond was demanding to know where she was. Who was she with? Was she alright? Did she feel as terrible as I did?

“Where is your lovely sister? We haven’t seen her around.”?

Mikel’s eyes traced over me, and something like concern flickered through his eyes. Well, that didn’t make me feel better. He ran his hand through his black hair.

“She is at home feeling a bit down lately. I’m sure she will come back when she is ready.”?

She misses me. Or rather, I broke her heart. I nodded and looked at Remy.?

“I’ve got some things to do. I’ll be back later.”?

I headed out of the house and made my way deep into the woods so I would not be seen by Mikel. I summoned mystarlight magic, and when it disappeared, I was standing outside of Della’s home in the sky. The large home was made mostly of glass, making it easy to see everything inside, especially because it was dark up here in the sky. I looked over my shoulder to see the view of the stars from up here.?

It felt like the heavens.?It felt… odd.

I walked around the house looking for her. After a moment, I came to the window outside of her bedroom. Ardella was in bed, and by the steady rise and fall of her chest, I could tell that she was sleeping. I used my magic to appear in her room. Slowly, I walked up to her bed and stared at her pretty face.?As soon as my gaze landed on her, my bond calmed down and the tension left my body.

Her room smelled like her, making my chest ache with longing. Della was wearing a man’s tunic, and jealousy instantly reared its ugly head. I wanted to wake her and demand she take it off, but as I leaned down toward her, I could smell my own scent coming from it. I swallowed hard as I realized it was mine from a long time ago. Confusion filled me. How often did she sleep in this?

I glanced around the room and paused when I recognized a drawing on her desk. I walked over to it and traced the lines of the house I had drawn all those years ago. The home I wanted to build for us, back when I was stupid enough to think I could have both Della and retribution on the stars. Now I know better. Sighing, I set it down and opened the top drawer of her desk just to be nosy. It was overflowing with letters. I grabbed one of them before looking over my shoulder at her.?

She was still sound asleep, so I opened the letter, not caring about her privacy. Someone was writing her letters that she thought were important enough to keep. I unfolded the sheet of paper and scanned the words, my heart immediately breaking.?

Today proved to me that no matter how much time passes, it will never be enough to get over you. Sara and Holden got married, and I was happy for them. But if I’m honest, all I could think about was how we were supposed to do that too. I couldn’t even stay for the whole celebration. I have not stopped crying.?

I feel as if I am dying, slowly suffocating without you. And even though I know it is impossible, I sometimes wish gods could die. What am I supposed to do? I have an existence of this heartbreak and longing. I feel as though I am in hell, being punished for loving you.?

And even though it is crazy, I still hold out hope that maybe the heavens and the hells will hear my pleading for you and show mercy on me. That maybe they will give you back to me. But each year that passes, that hope slowly shrinks inside of me.

I am all in.?

-Always your Storm

I opened another letter and realized they were all for me. My heart raced as I desperately wanted to rip each one open and devour her thoughts. I grabbed one from down at the bottom.Its color was no longer white but yellow and faded from time. Slowly, I opened it, knowing I was a glutton for punishment.

All that I see when I close my eyes is a life I no longer get to have. You have only been gone for 434 days, and I feel like I can’t remember the way your voice sounds anymore. Your memory haunts me with everything I do. All I can think is that you will never get to experience anything again.

I will never kiss you. I will never laugh with you. I will never fight with you. I will never marry you. I will never have children that get your artistic abilities or pretty, stormy eyes. I will never get more memories with you.

I have cursed the stars every day since they took you. Why must I be punished for loving you too much? Shouldn’t they want me to be happy with whoever I choose? And maybe I will get you back, but how long must I go through this torture?

I spend my days sitting in my room, and when that becomes too much, I go to our home. The one you started building, I still work on it. I rebuilt everything you had up before it collapsed. And I am determined to see that this dream of yoursgets completed. Maybe I am hopeful that when you come back to me, I will have something to give to you even though you will not know the significance.

That might be the only thing keeping me going—that damn house. I keep thinking that we will need a home to live in. A home like your parents', where it is filled with your artwork, and you can tell it was a home built with love. It is a way to stay close to you, and I can’t wait for you to see it one day.

I’m all in.

-Always your Storm.

I folded the letter carefully as the tears stung my eyes. Turning around, I watched her and felt overwhelming emotions. I was not used to feeling things like this when I was void. She worked on the house for us. I swallowed hard as I tried not to let this affect me. But I knew deep down that this meant more than anything else she may have done.

She stirred in the bed, and I quickly put the papers back and disappeared from her room.?

When my magic disappeared, I was in the field where the house I was building used to stand. I remembered it collapsing that night. So, I took a deep breath and turned toward where it stood before. My breath left my lungs as I saw that it stood, completed. It was just as I had drawn it, down to every detail.Fuck, could I really go in there and see what she did for me without getting too emotional?

Part of me had locked this dream away deep in my mind and heart so I did not have to feel the grief. I had been too reckless back then. Della made me think things could be different. I wanted things to be different. I wished there was a way to have Della and complete my duty, but Della was part of the plan, and it was already in motion. But fuck, I did not want to do this to her anymore.

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