A Love Restored

“Thank you,” I whispered. He passed me a short, surprised smile. Like it was surprising that I would thank him.

Why would I not?

Despite all my protests, all the thoughts in my head about not wanting to go, not wanting to live with him, all parts of my body screamed at me to go with him. Of course I wanted to go with him. He was the love of my life,

And he had picked me out of my miserable existence. Felix had always known what I needed even before I did.

He opened the car door on my side and extended his hand.

Felix’s hand, a grounding anchor in the swirling sea of my emotions, lingered on mine for a beat before withdrawing. It felt like a silent reassurance. The air, surprisingly fresh and washed clean by the storm, carried the fragrance of wet stone and mud, and blooming jasmine.

He guided me into a vast living room, bathed in the gentle glow of a crackling fire. He settled me on a plush velvet sofa.

“Get warm,” he asked softly.

While I rubbed my hands in front of the fire and tried to get warm, he went outside.

Moments later, he returned with a tray laden with food and steaming mugs of hot cocoa. Sandwiches, cut with surgical precision, nestled with an assortment of fresh fruits and exotic cheeses. The aroma tantalized my senses.

ly don’t need a housekeeper.”

“This looks so good. I didn’t know you had it in you,” I teased. “You really

He cracked a smile. “I couldn’t do this three times a day, every day. For

for all my life.”

“So spoilt.” I remarked,

He placed the tray on the coffee table, the crystal clinking lightly in the silence of the night. “Eat,” he said, his voice gentle yet firm. “You need it.”

I hesitated, my gaze flitting between the enticing spread and the stark opulence of the room. But I was hungry…

And so I did eat, hesitantly at first, then with growing hunger. The warmth of the food spread through me.

We sipped our cocoa, the sweet, milky liquid mingling with the smoky whispers of the fire.

As the first rays of dawn slanted through the windows, painting the room in shades of gold and rose, Felix stood up.

“It’s morning.” I whispered. Time went by so fast.

“Come,” he said. “Il show you your room.

He led me through the house, and I followed him. Finally, we reached a door at the end of a particularly long hallway. He pushed it open, revealing a spacious room bathed in the soft light of the rising sun.

I had been in this roun

form many

bedroom

any times. I’d washed all its linen two days ago. This was one of the two bedrooms that existed, other than the master

The bed was a cloud of fluffy white, the furniture polished to a high shine, Sunlight danced on the crystal chandelier, throwing rainbows across the plush carpet

My throat tightened. “Thank yuzi,” I whispered, my voice barely a tremor. “You want me to stay in the main house?”

“Where else would you stay?”

“I can’t stay here,”

He frowned, his brow furrowing in confusion. “Why not?”

I gestured around the room, my voice breaking. “This int….. it’s not me. I belong with the staff, in the servant quarters

His jaw clenched, but his voice remained calm. “Flora, you can take this room. It’s yours. You’re not like staff, you’re…”

He stopped, the words caught in his throat. The unspoken truth hung in the air, heavy and awkward.

“Felix,” I said, my voice firm despite the tremor in my

my heart, please. Let me stay with the staff. It’s where I belong.”

And so, despite his protests, we descended back into the maze of corridors, the opulent rooms giving way to simpler spaces. Finally, we reached the servant quarters.

“At least the bigger room here.” He said softly. I nodded.

Felix yawned as we made our way inside. The third room in the servant area was t of the mansion’s core.

area was the biggest. The servant quarters were a world away from the grandeur

The room, was small but tidy. Its whitewashed walls, with a moderately sized window from where the light of breaking dawn streamed in, a narrow bed with a crisp white sheet stood against the wall. A sturdy wooden desk tucked into a corner, a solitary chair beside it, a small closet. It was more than enough for me. It was a lot, actually, I hadn’t even had a room of my own in so many years.

My heart was happy at the prospect of privacy. Sleeping in a bed, even. Waking up to an alarm instead of noise. Turning off lights on and off as I pleased.

I ran a hand across the smooth surface of the desk, the coolness seeping into my palm. This wasn’t the worn, splintered wood of my old apartment. Maybe I could decorate a little. Keep a flower pet. Some books

The sound of boots crunching on gravel drew me to the window. Felix was unloading my meager belongings from the car, his broad shoulders silhouetted against the rising sun. A pang of guilt pierced my heart. He had offered me the moon, and I had chosen a comer in the shade.

He caught my gaze and raised a questioning eyebrow. I waved lightly,

I looked around, as I waited for him to come with my things. When he finally did, he kept the lone suitcase and bag on the floor in the corner.

I offered a reassuring smile, “Just settling in.”

“It’s… not much,” he said, his voice rough. “My offer still stands.”

“It’s perfect,” I countered, sincerity lacing my words. “It’s quiet, clean, and… mine. Thank you, Felix, for everything.”

His green eyes, still tinged with the shadows of the storm, searched mine. “I didn’t do enough.”

-you d

did so much,” I said, stepping closer to him. “I’m so grateful to you.”

“At least you’re here, now,” he murmured, his gaze locked on mine.

The silence stretched between us, charged with raw emotion. I saw in his eyes a flicker of something I hadn’t dared to hope for a longing, a tenderness that mirrored the nascent emotions stirring within me.

I wanted to kiss him. I wanted to feel his lips on mine. I had only kissed him once before, I had only kissed any one once before. I still remembered the

feeling.

“I know I’m a burden,” I said, breaking the silence, my voice barely a whisper. “But I promise, I won’t be for long. Fll find another place, get back on my feet. You wont have to worry about me. I’ll be out of your hair soon.

His face contorted into an expression of confusion, and then a little annoyance. “Flora,” he said, his voice low and earnest, “you’re not a burden. You’re staying here.“

And as I looked around my simple room, no longer a space of limitation but a canvas of possibility, I knew that even though I might be here for a wiule, this wouldn’t be my forever. How long could I stay here? I did have some money saved up. I could look for another place, soon. And then I’d be out of

“Thank you.” I said softly, not wanting to argue more. There was no point in discussing this right now.

He nodded curtly. “Good night, then ”

“Good night.” I answered.

He turned around and walked away, I stood in my place, looking around the room.

Moments later, the floorboards creaked outside my door, footsteps slowing to a hesitant pause. A gentle rap against the wood shattered the silence. “Flor? came his voice, a low murmur in the stillness. Felix, again.

“Yes?” I called back, my voice surprisingly steady.

The doorknob rattled, then the door slowly creaked open. Felix stood there, framed by the moonlight streaming through the hallway, his tall figure a silhouette against the silver light. He hesitated, like a hesitant flame on a windy night.

“L… I just wanted to ask if you need anything,” he finally said, his voice mough. His hands were slightly trembling.

I managed a small smile. “I’m fine, Felix. Thank you for checking”

“Do you have blankets?”

He took a step into the room, the floorboards creaking under his weight. His eyes, shadowed in the dim light, scanned my face, then lingered on the mound of blankets on the bed. My cheeks flushed under his gaze, the awkwardness of our situation hanging heavy in the air.

“I have blankets,”

He cleared his throat, offering a strained smile. “Right. Well, good night then.”Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

He turned to leave, the creak of the doorknob echoing his retreat. A sudden wave of loneliness, sharp and unexpected, washed over me. I hadn’t realized how much I’d cherished the idea of his return, the silent comfort of his presence in this unfamiliar space. And of what I had been expecting. That he would say something. Hold me.

“Wait, I blurted out, my voice barely a whisper.

ה

on the doorknob, his hack to me. I took a deep breath, the words churning in my stomach. ‘No, never mind,” I said, my

He paused, his hand resting on voice barely audible.

He remained still for a moment, then slowly turned around. The silence stretched between us, thick with desire and hesitancy.

Then, without a word, he crossed the room and closed the door behind him. He took another step, and another, until he stood before me, close enough I could feel the warmth radiating from his body. The air crackled with electricity, a tangible force tugging at the frayed edges of our defences.

He reached out, his hand hovering hesitantly near my face. Then, with a gentle touch, he tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear. The gesture, so slight, sent tremors through me, igniting a wildfire in my soul.

“Felix…” I breathed his name.

And then, before I could think, before I could retreat into the familiar walls of my self–preservation, he was pulling me into his arms. The embrace was unexpected, sweet and aching all at once. His arms wrapped around me, strong and secure,

1 clung to him, burying my face in his broad chest, the scent of rain and pine filling my senses. His heartbeat thumped against my ribs, a frantic drumbeat. We held each other, a tangle of limbs and trembling breaths, seeking solace and something more in the quiet refuge of the night.

I never wanted to let go of him. I never wanted to be out of his arms. To be separate from him. I wasn’t meant to be.

In his arms, I was melting into his body, fusing into his like I wasn’t meant to have my own.

The hug didn 1 last long, but it felt like an eternity. When he finally pulled away, his eyes searched mine, a kaleidoscope of emotions swirling within they einerald depths. My own breath hitched in my throat, my voice lost in the tangled maze of my emotions.

“Flower,” Felix’s hands were on my arms, holding me in place. He was barely touching me, it was like his hands were floating in the air right above my skin. But every hair in my body stood on end. Like I had been electrocuted.

A sob threatened to break through me.

“I’m sorry.” He whispered.

I didn’t say anything. He didn’t have anything to be sorry about.

“I’m so sorry,” he said again. But it was like he was speaking to himself, and not to me. “I failed, my flower

Failed?

He gripped my arms tightly. “I failed to protect you. I let all this shit

“You didn’t do anything, Felix.”

happen to you.”

His hands flexed, and I felt it on my own arms as he held them tightly. “Yeah. I didn’t”

He left my arms, and took a step back. He stared at me. His gaze running over my face, he finally whispered, “You

Chapter Comments

Tracey Blair Price

a mansion with only 3 badrooms?

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ou have to tell me, Flora”