Page 215 of Breaking Point
I’m quiet for a moment, letting his words sink in and hoping he means them wholeheartedly. “Why didn’t you leave?”
His arms tighten around me. “Because you’re my other half. I wouldn’t be whole without you.” He presses a featherlight kiss to my temple. “You deserve someone who stays, Bella.”
“Thank you for being that person.”
Grayson pulls back, turning me to face him, and the look of confusion has me pausing. “You don’t see it, do you?”
“See what?”
“How much I love you.”
“Do you really mean that? Those are big words?—”
“I do, and I’ll continue to prove to you that I love you everyday until you realize how much you mean to me. That even the world ending couldn’t tear me away from you, because the love I have for you is all-consuming.” His gaze softens. “For as long as you’ll have me, I’ll prove to you every day the love you deserve because I am unconditionally and irreversibly in love with you.” He smiles down at me, brushing his finger down my cheek. “And I don’t need to hear it back from you. I’ll wait however long you need.”
From Mom
Funeral
To my love,
I wished I would never have to write something like this to you. I wished I could be in your life for as long as possible. If you’re reading this, then my wishes haven’t come true and I am deeply sorry for that.
People say we don’t have answers for the afterlife, but I know within my heart and soul that I’ll be right there beside you, Bella. Even as you’re reading this, just know I will be beside you as you do.
I’ll be there in the moments as you laugh, as you cry, and as you experience life.
Giving birth to you was the greatest gift of my life. Watching you grow into the beautiful young woman that you are today is my greatest pride and joy. You are my light, my love and my happiness all wrapped up in one, and that’s how I know you can get through this.
I know you’ll be in pain, and I’d be lying if I said that it will fade. It never can when you love something so dearly, but just know that your strength will get you through this.
You are resilient, you are strong, and you are powerful, Bella.You are a force to be reckoned with, and that’s how I know you will survive this.
There might be moments where you feel lost or like the grief is swallowing you whole until you no longer can see the future, and that’s okay. Allow yourself to feel the pain. There will be times where the world seems overwhelming without me there to guide you, and I hope my letters get you through them. But when there are days where they might not, just know that I am right there beside you.
Forever being your number one cheerleader in all that you do.
I’m not going to say goodbye because goodbyes are too hard, and because I know deep down that we will be reunited once more. So until that day comes, just know that I’m always there with you.
I love you.
Forever and always, my love,
Mom
Chapter 58
Bella
ONE MONTH LATER
Grayson’s contract was renewed three weeks after my mother’s funeral, along with his captaincy title.
And he still hasn’t left. He has stayed true to his word.
He has loved me on days that I couldn’t get out of bed. He has loved me on the days that I was smiling and laughing, only to fall apart crying. He has loved me through the days I didn’t want to eat. He has loved me through the highest of highs and lowest of lows.
He has still yet to kick me out of his house, in fact the opposite. Every weekend he brings a load from my mom’s house to here, moving my stuff over one box at a time. I have no doubt he’s done it this way to not freak me out and it just makes me fall in love with him more every time.
