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But of every emotion throbbing through me, the predominant was the choking taste of....fear.

"Why did you agree to stay back here for a few more days ?"

Her gaze drifted away from mine, the expression she usually wore whenever she isn't being completely honest.

"Well your dad asked....and I couldn't just refuse"

My eyes narrowed suspiciously as I took two quick stride to merge the distance between us..

"Is that the only reason?Are you fucking lying to me?"

She swallowed hard as she struggled with the words.

"Hayden I..."

"You almost passed out this morning so don't fucking tell me that you're okay while you're not!"

My voice came out harsh and rougher than intended and I cursed myself silently.

She inhaled sharply, her eyes brimming wet with emotions, I tensed a bit when she rested her head against my chest.

"Because I was scared , that I was returning back to your past self, scared that he's going to get me and hurt me the moment I stepped my foot inside , but how could that be?you're right here with me, i'm really scared of HIM Hayden, scared of the old you, I believe you'll protect me from him , but why do I sense that you're more scared and nervous than I am?"

My body turned even more rigid at her soft spoken words, I averted my gaze from her searching ones.

"I'll understand if you tell me Hayden, you don't have to keep everything to yourself, I'm right here, we can share our fears, maybe only after then we'll be able to overcome them."

Her words brought my attention back to her, I slowly reached my palm to cup her chin, bringing my face close to her, I studied her face vividly, taking her in, her pleading gaze was urging the truth out of me.

"I'm afraid " I said, my voice almost inaudible ,I met her gaze with a defeated expression.

"I'm afraid of this place ,that you'll remember.....then you'll start hating me"

Chapter SIXTY FOUR

GRACIE

"That you're going to remember, and you'll begin to despise me once again..."

The anguish in his voice tore at my heart

"I'm afraid of that....so afraid " his whispered was tight and gut wrenching.His gaze burned with bright intensity against the dimly lit room.

He gaze not only mirrored the deep anguish in his voice, deep down I think he hated himself , he despised that he hurt me but at the same time couldn't let me go....

I held his gaze, inhaling and exhaling repeatedly to control my quivering insides..

"Do you know when I left years ago , I had felt so lost.....like I had lost the only person who needed me, the only person who would always be there when I opened my eyes whether I wanted it or not..."

My voice cracked tight as I remembered those nights filled with bitter tears , it still seemed like only yesterday.

I reverted my gaze to his, what I saw there was soul wrenching...his expression was pained as he pressed his forehead to mine.

"The bed would always be empty...it was so lonely..You were so hurtful, but I knew, knew that you cared for me in your own way .I didn't realized until I left that i had already gotten used to you Hayden.your hurt...your hate, your obsession, I got used to everything!and you know what?....the bunny also left her heart behind with the big bad wolf.." my voice trailed off, heavy with sadness.

I didn't realized when a stray tear streaked down , to fall past my chin , then more followed until it became too blurry to see him.But it wasn't just me, his gaze was red rimmed and turned into a shade of glassy green.

Who found each other first didn't matter, because next thing I was enfolded in his tight embrace, the heat radiating from his body slowly sipping into mine as I kept sobbing.