A shiver ran down my spine as Drei
laid a hand on my shoulder. It was harmless enough, but I couldn’t imagine why
he would want to touch someone as imperfect as me.
“Come. You can rest awhile in your
room,” Drei suggested, sounding almost like my dad for a moment. “You will meet
the others when they have awoken and had breakfast.” He looked down at me, not
disgusted or repelled, but not smiling either. Drei wasn’t going to disprove
Valetta’s claim on him. There was a kindness, though, that he hoped would make
me feel more secure. Unfortunately, it didn’t, despite my wishing it would.
I followed him, even more
self-conscious than before, certain everyone would hate me and I would end up
running away from where I ran away to. A question appeared in my mind, asking
what I had been thinking to believe anything would be better.
Drei led me along a path that
provided an excellent view over the lake, its sparkling waters seeming to mock
me. The path was well worn, bearing only the occasional pebble. My eyes
followed its ragged edge, unaware of the fairly steep slope falling to the
lake’s shore. Something cold erupted inside me, causing me to shiver. I felt
Drei look worriedly at me, but he didn’t say anything. His wordless response
sent more traitorous beliefs into my turbulent mind. The most prominent being I
had been wrong, yet again.
My feet followed him up new wooden
stairs, stained and mussed to give the impression of age. Their sturdiness told
otherwise.
“Here we are,” he stated at the top
of the stairs.
I looked up at the nondescript front
of the cabin; it was so far from where we had entered, I wondered if he had
chosen this cabin on purpose.
He followed my slow ascent to the
door, an anxious air drifting about him. Immediately inside was a small living
space, complete with rugged chairs, a worn-out table, and a faded, sagging sofa
in a hideous mauve hue. Just to the left was a small bedroom owning a single
bed, old and rundown, but well cared for, as well as a well-kept rocking chair,
the intricate carvings along the edges smelling recently refurbished.
Drei followed me with his eyes as I
drew near the chair, my fingers running along the smoothed designs. As I gazed
at it, something inside admitted I’d be all right here, even if everyone else
hated me. At least this space could be mine. This chair alone felt more like
home than my father’s house, and that was enough.
“Do you like it?” he questioned
tentatively.
I turned, shocked at hearing his
voice. For a moment I just stared, forgetting he had asked a question. Turning
to look at the drab room containing the welcoming rocking chair, I replied,
“It’s perfect.”
Part of me wanted to hug him, and yet
I knew that would be inappropriate. There had been no problem with our
closeness outside the world; but back inside, I knew it couldn’t be. He had
Valetta, after all.
“Delighted,” he responded, a soft
smile on his lips. “You are by yourself for now, but there is another room.”
His insinuation was obvious, but I
could care less about a roommate. All that mattered was this room was mine. From
my duffel bag, I pulled out my favorite blanket—a feathery soft material in
pale beige with a silk scarlet border—and draped it over the thin sheets on the
bed. I also removed a small matching throw pillow. Though there were other
miniature decorations I could have given a new home, now didn’t feel like the
time, so I slid the duffel into a corner.
Drei walked down the length of the
bed, a pale finger trailing along my blanket. He met me at the foot. “Are you
set?”
The sensation to hug him again was startlingly
tempting as traces of his flowery scent reached me, but I kept my distance. “Yes,”
I replied, a smile solidly on my lips. My emotions continued to yo-yo but for
the moment, I felt calm and somewhat excited. It was time to meet the others.
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