Page 31 of Bound By Flames
It’s just food.
It’s just food.
“Wh-what?” He shakes his head. “Whatever. You’re not dying, Mia. I’m…damn it,” he curses in front of the mess that I am, looking into my eyes, searching for the key that would set me free.
I’m grateful he’s trying.
I’m grateful someone’s here.
Someone who doesn’t laugh at me.
“Alright, wait. Let’s try something.” Kissing my forehead roughly, his lips bring me back to our wedding day. “Picture a place, a happy place, somewhere you feel good.” He strokes my cheek with his rough thumb. My breathing is still going strong, and I struggle to hear him despite his attempts. “I don’t know. A beach, a park, whatever the fuck makes you feel good.”
I choke on my saliva, feeling green mold expand inside me so fast, I know there’s not much time left for me.
He’s wasting his time.
It’s too late.
“I c-can’t,” I murmur tears falling hard on my cheeks as I fist his black shirt so hard it tears the fabric in an irreversible way.
“No, you’re not. Fuck, stay with me, Mia. You’re gonna be okay.” His tone turns into a more commanding one, making my floating body come back to earth like an anchor grounding me.
Better, that’s better.
Listen to his voice.
Just hold onto him.
“I’m gonna breathe with ya, yeah? Deep breath, Mia. C’mon, let’s do it together.” I try my best to stay focused on him and ignore the stars shining in my vision.
Don’t let go.
Don’t let go.
Don’t let go.
“Inhale. Yeah, deep breaths, just like that,” he says, the echo of his deep voice surrounding me like a weighted blanket. “You’re doing good. Come on, once more.” I follow his command, and slowly, the storm stops raging and my body is swimming above the water. We do this five times before my hands stop shaking and my vision comes back fully. That’s when I notice how strong he’s crushing me to his chest. Like he’s afraid I’ll disappear if he lets go.
“That’s it, that’s it.” His voice hits a lower tone I didn’t know he had in him, making an army of butterflies churn in my belly for some strange reason.
He did it.
He saved me from the storm.
He stopped the poison from spreading.
I sigh loudly, biting my lower lip, my voice filled with thick tears as I let go of his shirt. His hold on me doesn’t waver, his burning gaze staring into mine. No one ever did this. All these years, I had to face it alone. Kiara only saw one or two episodes, but I always tried to protect her from this.
“Than–Thank you,” I whisper, so disappointed in myself for revealing this part of me to him. He’ll see me like this now, the weird girl afraid to die each time I eat something that isn’t on my list. A strange, broken woman. That’s all I will ever be. And it shouldn’t bother me. After all, I’m not even sure if I’ll stay here forever, but I never thought things would shift this way. That he would read my distress on my face and help me. That he knew enough to give me the privacy I needed from our guests and didn’t even laugh when I told him I was dying.
He was just here, helping me get through it.
He sighs loudly, as if he had been holding his breath the whole time. “You scared the shit out of me, Mia.” His gaze darkens, and my lips part at his admission. “Don’t ever do that again.” His threat runs over me with an undertone. Perhaps Iwasn’t the only one terrified tonight. Turns out we both revealed something of ourselves this evening. We stay like this for a while, his arms protecting me from the storm, until he kisses my temple with a feather breath kiss and mutters the words I'll never forget.
“I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry I made you go through this.”
Ares
