Page 69 of Tortured Souls

SAXON

Sky is sitting snuggly behind me on my bike, her arms wrapped around my waist. The ride started in town. Saxon, Finn, Owen, Brooks, and I are all leading in the front of a massive ride with roughly three hundred riders. My heart is so full knowing everyone is here to bring awareness to such an important cause. The donations are even higher than the rider count. All donations will be going to the local battered women’s shelters, and local nonprofits that assist woman and children with food, clothing, and housing.

The air is warm, and the breeze is even better as we make our way through town and head towards Rhun Canyon. Looking side to side, I see my closest friends, Sage, and the girls on theirrespective riders’ bikes. Sage put up a fight at first, wanting to ride her own bike, but was soon convinced otherwise that Saint would be lonely without her on the back. She eventually caved. Likely also agreeing because she is currently carrying my niece or nephew in her barely visible baby bump. There was no way in hell any of us would let her ride alone. In fact, it took a force of nature to convince us to let her ride on the back with Saint. Every single one of us put up a fight, but in the end, she was able to convince Saint to let her ride with him.

I’m happy for them. I truly am. However, every time I watch her and Saint talk about their soon-to-be child, I watch the light in Sky’s eyes dim just a little. She’s ecstatic for them, like the rest of us. But seeing the joy leave her eyes, knowing she will never get to experience that, makes me heartbroken for her.Not only is she not able to have children, I, too, will never be able to give her children.

We’ve talked about adoption and even surrogacy and we are open to both ideas. It’s just the idea of not experiencing pregnancy and having that stolen from you makes the whole thing feel unfair. Especially for her. She never asked for this, and having a piece of her ripped away, literally, is a grief no one will ever understand unless they’ve been through a similar experience.

I rest my left hand on top of Sky’s that’s against my abdomen. Glancing back, I see the smile on her face as she closes her eyes for a brief moment and lets the sun shine on her face. She looks happy. She looks so fucking happy.

She’s come such a long way since that first time I laid eyes on her. She was vengeful, carrying an anger that was crushing her from the inside out. A fury that was ruling her life instead of her finding a future for herself, the pain constantly tearing her apart. She was a different person from who she is now. Her happiness is radiant and infectious. While her past is still her past, she nolonger allows it to rule her future. She is the ruler of her own path, and she’s turned into this bright energy that no longer seeks out the darkness.

She is light, and I could not be more proud of the work she has put into herself. Happiness is never guaranteed, but she’s worked day and night to ensure she experiences the life she deserves. The life she once thought was unreachable is now playing out for her in front of her eyes. It’s like watching a flower that was once dead bloom again and grow. Against all odds, she bloomed. She fought. She survived.

“I love you, tesoro,” I say over my shoulder.

“I love you more, Saxon.” Her arms wrap around my neck, peppering my cheek with her kisses, and I’ve never felt so complete in all my life.

I finally found my girl. The girl in my dreams. The girl in the lavender fields.

My treasure.

The End