Page 206 of Nemesync
“Yeah, what happened to the Zanae that wanted to kiss my pain away?”
She kissed me while laughing. “You’re stupid, Elijah.”
I kissed her back. “Stupidly obsessed with you.”
We went back to bed, and she held me close between her legs, hugging me while I was lying on top of her, my head nestled on her chest. Her hands traced gentle strokes through my hair. I closed my eyes, feeling the monster inside me slowly drifting into sleep.
In that position, the little boy hidden behind the beast finally found rest. He saw light again just like when he was with his mother in front of the night sky.
Is this what normal people feel when they’re happy?
I felt the delicate touch of her fingers caressing my nape, slowly as if she was afraid of hurting me.
Her existence created a subtle ache within my soul.
The scent of vanilla from her hair enveloped me, grounding me in the moment. She hugged and cherished every version of me— the scared child, the angry teenager, the lost man. Eachfacet of my being felt comfort in her arms, as if she was tending to them individually, offering a world where care surpassed the pain, the loneliness, the agony, and the abuse. She was introducing in my life a new language, one of kisses, hugs, and caresses—a language that held the power to make me feel alive.
“It’s going to be okay, Elijah. I’m here,” she assured me, planting a gentle kiss on the top of my head.
“You’ll never leave.”
Her hand found its way to my jaw as she answered, “I don’t want to.”
“Never.”
“Never, never,” she promised.
A few hours later, I woke up to find us in a reversed position. She still had her arms wrapped around me, now hugging my chest. I sat on the edge of the bed, captivated by her peaceful breaths. My fingertips traced the contours of her face, her eyes, her nose, her mouth, and her jaw, marveling at the beauty before me.
I felt consumed.
This is the only word that can reflect what’s happening within me when it comes to her.
Zanae had carved a place in my dead heart, rekindling a flame that beat to her own rhythm. Her skin was soft under my touch. I was in awe that someone like her could care for a man like me.
Leaning in closer to her, I placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, silently vowing to protect her with no bounds or limits.
I settled beside her, and never felt that peaceful in a long time, no nightmares, nothing. I just wanted to see her rest.
A few moments later, Zanae stirred from her nap, meeting my gaze with a soft smile. She stretched her arms and with a playful tilt of her head, she spoke to me in that soft voice, “Hey, you.”
“Hey.”
Those damn amber eyes sparkled with affection. She reached out, fingers gently grazing my cheek. “Do you feel better?”
“I do,Milaya.”
She smiled, her ebony hair cascading against my arm, “Then I’m good too.”
I guided her to the kitchen since she hadn’t eaten yet and made her a little snack.
“See the book I was reading yesterday? I think it may be the most bizarre thing I’ve read,” she said, eating her pancakes.
I leaned closer for a kiss, “Did you like it?”
Before Zanae could respond, I received a call from Nikolai, urging us to come to his house now.
38
