Tears continuously streaming down my cheeks makes my heart so heavy and make me lose my appetite. Cleaning the table is the way I could reverse my thoughts. I am trying to calm myself and start washing the dishes. I kept myself busy since my emotions were so strange that I could not understand why I was emotional. My back hurts, and I am weary of the chores. I go straight to my room, changing my clothes when the gust noise starts at the ceiling. I look out the window. The rain starts pouring. It is slow, making a melody that makes me at ease. I jump in bed and close my eyes. —Time flies so fast. Nothing special happened in a week because Caleb returned for being a beast—locking himself in his room after that conversation in the dining room with Charles. It seems his mood is getting more and more gloomy. “Are you going out?” I was startled and turned around to face him. I nodded and could not grasp what to say. He walks past me and sits on the couch. I wait for his words as he grab
The deafening silence sits between Caleb and me. His heart beat quite loud while my throat dried up, making me run my fingers on my neck.“What are you doing here?” His voice was so firm, trying to control his anger. “I…” I’m trying to find the right word and cannot think of any. Until he grabs my arms, dragging me outside. His hold was so tight, and his nails pierced my skin. “Ouch!” I shout, pulling my hand, but his grip is too firm. “Please, let me go,” I sob while he keeps walking until we reach the living room. As I open my mouth, he removes his grip. “What are you doing in that room?” The muscles on his face moved with his gritted teeth. I move back. He groans as I keep silent. I startle and say, “I… accidentally fell into the hole,” I halted, not wanting to tell him more. Unsatisfied, he shakes his head and walks past me. I sigh, taking a deep breath when he shouts, “You are a liar!” I close my eyes for a moment, controlling myself from weeping. Until I heard the loud bang o
I changed clothes but stayed in the room, strolled, and placed my head on the door. It is too silent outside. I get up, shaking my hands to ease the nerves. How am I going to start talking to Caleb? The door suddenly swung open. I turn back, looking up at the ceiling. He cleared his throat. “Go out and prepare breakfast,” My jaw drops. Caleb is not going to drag me out. I faced him and nodded, but he just headed back outside the door. I followed him and went straight to the kitchen. As I start cooking, a soothing sweet smell hit my nostrils. Then it followed with a loud thud upstairs. I run upstairs, panicking to check him while creasing my forehead. His room was empty, but the wind coming through the open balcony door while the curtain danced in the air made me gasp. Strange. He is opening the balcony now. I move forward and start walking inside. A loud gasp echoed downstairs as I was about to go to the balcony. Suddenly, my body trembles in fear. “What are you doing here?” I tilte
Caleb stays on my side and lets me hug him for a few hours until I hear he has difficulty breathing. I moved my head and saw his face was so red. I frowned, and my jaw sank. I grab the blanket and cover my chest. “I…” I whisper, but no words follow. My face blushes, and I pull my body to Caleb and give him space. He gets up and stares at me momentarily, then fixes my pillow and grabs my blouse on the floor. He places it on my bed, tapping his hand on the mattress while I nod and lay back. He sighs and walks out the door. Even though he did not say a word, I knew he wanted to ask what had happened to me, but I didn’t know how to answer it. That moment of doubt I felt inside my chest gave me goosebumps, and the fear started to linger in my system again. I never had this fear while staying at the orphanage for eighteen years. Even though the bullies kept making pranks to hurt me, I never had this scary moment. I keep letting them and never fight back. I move to the side and face the w
I stayed on my seat in the grass and did not move an inch. The growling sounds are getting louder, which makes my heart skip a beat. Am I going to die? I tremble in fear and avert my gaze to my legs. I gasped when I spotted the blood dripping. The growl faded, and the surrounding was silent. My throat dries up, and my vision gets blurry until I see a wolf approaching me. I gawked, and my body continued trembling. I rubbed my eyes and blinked. Still, a brownish wolf is moving closer. It is too slow, which keeps my heart pounding fast. “Don’t go near me!” I shout, grabbing the rock beside me. The wolf stopped and shook his head. Does he understand me? “I will hit you!” He gritted his teeth, and I accidentally fell the stone to the ground and hit my wound. I pursed my lips to fight the pain and stop myself from shouting. In my peripheral vision, I saw the wolf jumping at me. Before I moved back, my body was weak, and I could no longer fight the agony until I was engulfed in darkness. —
I lay in bed for the third time and closed my eyes, but I still could not sleep. It is almost midnight, but I am still wide awake. I looked out the window and got curious if Caleb was right. I tiptoe and ensure no noise until I reach the window; my forehead wrinkles as I sway the light green curtain. Caleb had already fixed it outside, and it was locked. I sigh and look around the room. In so much boredom, I check the cabinet. No things anymore as well the sketch pads and other paintings are all gone. He is indeed wise. My guts are telling me that he is hiding something. Another glimpse strikes in my thoughts, and I collapse on the floor. It is painful to see the blood on the ridge. I shook my head, trying to remove the image in my mind, but I could not. Until a loud growl echoed around the mansion, and it followed the splash of broken glasses. I got up, running on the door, but I gawked. The door was also locked outside. Did he lock me in here? My heart is pounding fast as the noise
Caleb’s face leans at my back, which gives shivers down my spine. I should push him away. He saw me with nothing, and it was wrong. He is still a man, and I am a woman. He touched my back as I was about to run at the door.“Is it hurt?” I shake my head. “Where did you get these red spots on your back?” I exhale as I realize he is not into me but concerned about me. I turn around and face him. My eyes narrowed as I eyed his broad shoulders and arms scratches. He cleared his throat, and I averted my gaze to his eyes. “I... I have no idea where did I get it.” I halted, trying to stop myself from asking about the minor cuts on his body, and added, “Did you carry me on the second floor last night?” His face flushed, and he glared at me.“N-No!” He yelled, walking away. He is too obvious; we are the only ones living here. I shut the door and take a cold shower instead. I felt hot after I saw him. No, it can’t be! I keep murmuring to myself as his image keeps popping into my mind. Why could
Caleb and I stared at each other for a few seconds, and my heart skipped a beat. It is getting strange even more the effects he brings to me. I look away first and move backward.I cleared my throat and asked, “What help do you need?”He went to his cabinet and pulled out a medicine kit. “Get the bandage here and wrap my hands. I got wounds on the shattered glass.” He pointed to the scattered glasses on the floor. I followed him silently and checked his wound. My eyes narrowed. I see it clear earlier that the injury was gone, but it shows a cut now. I shook my head and put on the bandage. We fell silent until I finished putting in the gauze. I did not say a word, but I carried the medicine kit and returned it to his cabinet. “Are you alright?” He asked. “I am good,” I answered, walking near the door, then stopped and turned around. “Eat your lunch now.” As he did not answer, I went out and rushed downstairs. I put my hand on my chest, and my heart pounded fast. I ran my finger thro