Page 109 of The Fighter who Needed Me
Persephone
London, England June, 1813
Laying in bed for endless days as she recovered was something that made her long for something else.
She had spent entirely too much time in bed and though Brooks wanted her to get well, and she felt well.
Yes her shoulder hurt, but that shouldn’t make her stay in bed.
She felt happier than she had in years. Her mother was alive. It was a sight she never thought she would see.
Something that she had fervently hoped for but had not actually believed could come true.
And yet when she had awoken the first time, Brooks was there, as was another person.
The two had been in the middle of a deep conversation and when she had coughed slightly to clear her throat, they had looked her way.
And what shocked her the most was that the woman had the same eyes that she saw in the mirror every single day.
She also had the same hair and had the same nose.
Persephone had gasped and tried to sit up, which made Brooks immediately stand and push her gently back to the bed.
She had teared up and when her mother had stood from her chair and had walked cautiously to where she lay, apprehension in her eyes, and when Persephone had reached out her hand, and Charlotte had taken it, the two started sobbing.
Charlotte fell to her knees on the side of her bed and just sobbed as did Persephone.
Brooks stood over them both and put a hand on her hair, stroking it softly.
He comforted them both and picked Charlotte up from the floor and put her on the bed beside her.
Persephone had grabbed her mother's hand tighter and Brooks had left the room. Letting them have their moment.
Her mother had hugged her tightly and had cried in her arms.
Persephone held her mother close, crying as she did so. It was wonderful to have the person she had longed for in her arms.
When Charlotte pulled away, she wiped her tears the best she could and helped Persephone do the same.
“My darling girl. I have missed you. For so long. I have always tried to watch over you, but for the last few years I have failed you. And I am sorry.”
Persephone gave her a confused look and Charlotte told her about everything.
And then Persephone broke down crying again. She had always wished that someone would come in the night and hug her and hold her.
And on several occasions when she was very young, she thought she had felt someone lift her from her bed and cradle her close, all the while stroking her hair and crooning a soft song.
She always thought it was a dream, and one that she held close to her heart and had told no one about for fear they would break her heart.
But knowing that it was not a dream, that it had truly happened was something that helped to bolster her.
She pulled her mother in for a hug, “I always believed it was a dream. That I had made it up and just wanted love so badly that it was not real. But it was. You were there. And you loved me.”
Charlotte cupped her face, “Of course my darling. You were always mine and I tried my best to love you. Even for those few stolen moments each night. I have always loved you. And I wish our lives had been different. That selfish and cruel people hadn’t taken that from us.”
Persephone hugged her mother again, “They cannot hurt us again. Never again. Our lives are going to be different from here on out. I want you to come with us when we go to the country. You will love it there.”
Charlotte gave a small laugh, “This is the third time I have been asked about the country. As long as I am with you, I do not care where I live. I just want to get to know my daughter and apparently my son in law.”
