Healed By Love

CHAPTER 43

AUDELIA'S POV

My eyes open on their own as the sleep slowly dissipates into nothing but something light. A yawn escapes me and I muffle it with a hand, moisture accumulating in my eyes which I blink away.

My eyes immediately fall on Arrow who is deep asleep next to me. He is facing the away as he sleeps on his side with his legs extended. His body rises and falls rhythmically. I reach out my hand to pet his head lightly, careful not to wake him up.

"Do I not get anything?" I hear Lorenzo's rough voice from behind me and the next second, his lips are on my jaw. He traces my jaw lightly with his lips before pressing a light kiss in the crook of my neck, giving rise to a flutter in my stomach.

"Good morning?" I joke, a small smile on my face.

"It is not even morning." He answers, his hand that was around my waist tightening around me as he turns me around to face him. He pulls me to his chest and I rest my chin on his chest, looking at him with my hand draped across his torso.

"Too bad then." I sigh. "I was thinking of giving you a good morning kiss. I guess it is useless now." I tap his nose lightly and his eyes narrow on me.

"I don't care what time of the day it is Smeraldo." A smile on my face, I get closer to him, pecking his lips.

"That was not a kiss." He complains

"That is all that you are going to get Lucifer." He rolls his eyes at the nickname.

I place my head on his chest, one of leg draped across his waist. His hand goes in my hair while I take the other free hand in mine, playing with it to keep me distracted.

"Are you feeling better now?" He asks after a moment of silence.

"Yes." I say, letting out a breath. "Thank you for being here with me."

"Don't thank me." He repeats his words from earlier. "You before everything else. I mean it."

"So, do you want to talk about what has you in such a gloomy mood today?" He asks, his tone somewhat hesitant like he is threading on thin ice. "If you are comfortable." He adds when I don't say anything.

"It's fine." I reply. He has been with me since the morning and has given me all the space that I need while still comforting me in a way.

Like many say, sharing things make you feel lighter and there is this inner factor that pushes me towards him. The part of me that wants to open up to him and maybe get closer than we are. Besides, whether I tell him or not, it is not going to change anything. What happened cannot be changed by anyone- not even him.

"It is," I start, my throat turning dry at the memories that start playing in my mind. Taking in a deep breath, I start again. "Today is the day my mother died."

He stays quiet for a few seconds and I release a long breath, feeling somewhat lighter by getting what has been troubling me off my chest.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He finally asks, his voice still hesitant.

"I don't know what to say." I say truthfully. "I- I don't know." The claws of guilt start wrapping around my neck at the thought of not knowing what to say about my mother who was my support.

It is not like I do not remember anything. I remember it all- every little thing we did. It is just that whenever I start to think about her, it all spirals down into images of my mother's lifeless body. Just one reminder of her and it is enough for a ride down memory lane.