I stood in the shower, water pelting down my body, my hair falling to my back. I looked back to Florian, who was gently running his fingers down the back of my shoulder, his thumb pressing down on my skin to relieve them.I gave a small smile as I turned back to the mirror we were standing in front of, my lips slipping between my teeth. "What are you thinking of?"I shrugged. "I just feel really good right now. Really good."He looked down to my eyes in the mirror, and the slight intensity behind them was more than enough to weaken my knees."I feel like I am living a midsummer night's dream."He gave a small smile. "I always knew you wanted me back."I gave a small laugh. "Cocky much?""Maybe," he replied, before slowly leaning to me. "Can I ask you something, Roxanne?"I could feel his voice slightly thicken with seriousness, and a bit of nervousness filled my chest."Ask me."He ran his hands down the side of my neck. "You genuinely do not think I am a bad person, do you?"I turn
ROXANNE'S P.O.V."Florian?"Florian turned, a little startled, his hand leaving the side of his face and simultaneously releasing the phone he had been holding. The phone fell to the floor in a thud, and I gasped, my brows furrowed.There was a moment of awkward silence before he went down and grabbed the phone, then met my eyes and gave me a small smile."I am sorry. I was a bit startled."I nodded slowly. "Is everything alright?"Something passed in his eyes, and I steeled myself for what would happen next. I steeled myself for all of the possible answers that question could have."You look beautiful in that dress," he said, his voice a small whisper.I broke into a smile, then gave a little twirl, my hand going into the pockets in each side so I could show him that it had pockets. He gave a small laugh, and I giggled a bit more, feeling rather hot from having his attention on me like that. Suddenly, my foot caught in my shoe, and I started to fall backwards.I gave a small yelp, m
ROXANNE'S P.O.V I rested my head on the glass, my eyes watching the city as we drove past it all. My mind was occupied with Florian, and not exactly necessarily just because of the tremble in my knees, but also because of everything else.He was trying his best to look strong in the last few minutes of my stay there, but his eyes slightly betrayed him. I could see a small dent in his rather cool exterior. A small dent in his cold armour. I gave a small sigh as we came to a traffic stop. I turned, and my eyes suddenly fell on a flower shop. "Boys don't need flowers," I had said ten years ago, that valentine when I had turned sixteen. "What guy would want flowers from a girl?""It isn't a bad gift," Florian had said, watching me. I could remember avoiding his gaze then because we had just had a heated argument about some stupid thing that I can't remember now. "It would depend on the person behind the bouquet."I swallowed hard, my eyes settling on the flower shop. I hadn't brough
The bouquet sat in front of the dresser, with Florian sitting in front of it, his eyes fixed on the mirror, his shoulder slightly slumped. I stood behind him, gently brushing his hair, my fingers passing through the beautiful silky strands. His phone had been ringing for the past five minutes, but he didn't even look at it, just sat there, watching his own reflection.I leaned to him and placed a small kiss on his forehead. "You are good to go now."He let out a small sigh. "Thank you. And for the flowers too."I shook my head, my eyes still slightly filled with worry as the flashback of his tears filled my mind. "It is perfectly fine. I will go get ready."He nodded without saying anything, and I turned around and started to walk to the door. I stopped for a minute and turned. Florian was still watching the mirror, his eyes thin, his chest slightly heaving.I bit down on my lower lip, then slowly let go of the door knob. "Florian?"He turned to me, his brow slightly raised. "Yes?"
ROXANNE'S P.O.V He was hurting my hand. He had his eyes on me. And even though they didn't look malicious or anything, I could tell that he knew it. His eyes were solemn, almost teary, and he suddenly turned away, just as I started to slow down. The building I had been driving to coming into slow view.His grip on my hand loosened, and he gently brought my hand to his lips and placed a soft kiss right on the tiny dent that his grip had left. He didn't lean away immediately and just sort of buried his face on my hand, his breaths shaky.I brought the car to a stop and turned to him, my chest full with emotions that I didn't describe. I pushed my fingers through his hair, and he let out a shaky breath, his fingers holding mine even tighter.He finally leaned away, his eyes closed, and he turned away from me."Don't you trust me enough, Florian?"He chuckled and shook his head. "I am just having one of those days, princess."I let out a sigh, then nodded. "Hopefully, this makes you feel
History is really just... a mirage to me now. Something to be fond of. Something I have forgotten about. Because with every minute I spend with Florian, a part of my life is altered forever. A part of my life is completely lost and replaced with a chip of the woman I become in his arms.Now we are here, kissing in the rain, the water running down our bodies, the heat in our tongues, the vulnerability peeking in. Of course, I knew there was something more, but I was slowly starting to not care. I was slowly starting to only be able to look at this man in front of me. His hand ran down to my waist, and he pulled me closer into him. His heart thumped against mine, and I wrapped my hands around him, leaning up to really feel all of him. We said nothing to each other, trusting those kisses to do all of the communication for us. Even as we sat in the same tiny room that we had all those years ago, his fingers intertwined in mine, his chest heaving hard, our history together completely ch
ROXANNE'S P.O.V It felt like the wind was knocked right out of my lungs. Ronan? Ronan was a little bitch but... I slowly looked up to Florian.Florian wouldn't lie to me, especially right now. Florian wouldn't make things up right now, and he definitely wouldn't do so much for an anger that wasn't justified."What's that look?" He asked, laughing slightly. "Why would you be surprised? I told you she was dead the other day.""I...""You guarded your heart a little too hard again, didn't you?" He gave a small pause, his brows raised. "You... we both know you asked now only because you still want to guard your heart. That's why you forgot that she wasn't even living competition. That's why everything passes for you like these rain clouds. Because you keep guarding your heart a little too hard. A little too selfishly, Roxanne.""Florian..""What are you going to say to me?" He asked, his voice breaking. I never thought I would see Florian reach this point, and fuck, it scared me. "That
The ride home was quiet, but at least Florian let me hold until his hand tight. I watched his profile, my eyes blurred with tears. I hated myself for pushing him to this point. I hated myself for the blood I carried in my veins. I hated the time I wasted without letting myself go for someone who I knew would absolutely do it for me.We finally got home, and Florian went out, then came around and opened the door for me. His eyes held mine for a long minute before he turned away, closing the car door, before he walked away.I stopped by the door, watching his back as he made his way up the stairs, letting go of the cat keys on one of the stairs and never even looking back.I blinked, my face dropping, the emotions heavy on my heart. I slowly followed him, wondering if he would still come to my room tonight, like he always did. I wouldn't even want him to. I wanted him to be selfish and not spend the night in the arms of the person who reminds him of everything he keeps trying to run aw
FLORIAN'S P.O.V I took a deep breath and looked down at the suit I was wearing. It was the same one that dad had kept to attend my wedding in. It was Roxanne who had suggested it, and now that I am, I felt it all the way to my bones.I looked around. It was just me and the officiating priest, waiting for Roxanne.I have dreamed of this day my entire life. Watching her walk down the aisle to me. Her dress. Her smile.The door cracked open, and I straightened even more, my heart pounding hard as I watched the door. It opened wide, bathing the church in sunlight. I kept my eyes on it till I finally saw her. She was standing there, like she had materialised out of my most ambitious dreams. My heart pounded in my chest, and I found myself reciting the vows I had memorised ever since we started wedding planning. It's not like there was a lot to plan.She looked up to me, and even through the veil, I could see her smile. It reminded me of the reason I had never even looked at another wom
ROXANNE'S P.O.V I woke up with a start, my heart beating wildly in my chest. I immediately turned to the left side of the bed, already preparing my heart for the ultimate fuckery that it had all been a dream. The hugs, the kisses, the tears... that it was all nothing but me yearning.To my surprise, Florian was already awake, his body half covered by the sheets, his hand holding up his chin as he watched me, a soft tender look I his eyes.I let out a sigh of relief, my eyes slowly blinking as I savoured his presence.He gave me a smile, then reached his other hand out to me. "Did you wake up to check if I was real?" I nodded truthfully, then adjusted, so I was lying next to him, my eyes taking his. "I think I would really die if you weren't."He smiled, his hand reaching up to gently caress my face. "You are just as beautiful as you were a year ago."His voice was a small whisper, and I drew even closer."You are going to have to promise me something."He laughed, then brought my ha
I sat on the edge of the same hotel suite we had stayed in the we came here together a year ago for my birthday, my heart feeling rather heavy. I could hear the sound of the bath, and even though I had promised myself to be calm amd stay in here, it was hard to not want to barge in there just to make sure he really was back. To make sure my Florian really was alive.I took in the hotel room. It looked like he had been here for a while. Probably not the entire year, but still a bit of time. I walked to the dresser, and my heart felt even heavier. My pictures were sitting in glass frames all over, adorning the dresser.I swallowed, tears stinging the back of my eyes. There were lots of books to the side. Mostly about healing. Forgiveness. I wondered just how much he believed he needed to work on himself just so he could love me.I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath, just as the sound of the shower stopped. I held my breath, then slowly turned to him, my lips parting. He was by t
The kiss was slow, and I felt all of the parts of me that had broken over the last year slowly come together again. My mind fought the possibility that this man was really Florian, but my stupid, stupid heart was already fluid for him. Like he wasn't gone for a whole year. Like he didn't disappear for a whole year.When he broke the kiss, I found myself leaning towards him, needing more, begging for more with everything in my body except my voice.His thumb ran across my face, wiping the tears away. He then leaned close, kissing those tears away, like I always imagined he would during those late nights when I lay in bed, missing him."I am sorry," he whispered, his voice cracking with emotion. "I am sorry I put you through that. I am sorry, Rox."I opened my eyes, my chest heaving. "You... Are you really Florian?"He nodded slowly, a single tear falling off his cheek. "I am sorry."I swallowed, reaching for his hand. Like I needed to make sure. Like I needed to know. "You... you died.
I have asked the question several times. How would it feel for time to stop? How would it feel if... for a second, for a minute, time stops, and we breathe?I just realized that I was wrong about being able to breathe. Time froze in place for me, and so did everything as I know it. My tears, my trembling fingers, my beating heart, my breath.My fingers dangled off the door knob, and I just stood there, unable to think. Unable to do a thing. I swallowed hard, then blinked, a long tear running down from my left eye. Is it that I had been bestowed a minute from the heavens? To hear that voice before I go back to the emptiness that I am still learning to embrace?I bit down on my lips. That voice, that name... it belonged to a part of my heart that will probably forever carry pain. Probably forever, carry regret.I closed my eyes and took a step forward. My imaginations now have voices. Very beautiful voices, but I knew I wad going insane.I turned the door knob just as a small snicker
EXACTLY 364 DAYS LATER"You became an international violin sensation in such a short time. Of course, we know you have been playing ever since you were a child, but how are you coping with being a celebrity and also the CEO of a multitrillion dollar company like the Hunt group?"I nodded slowly to the last question of the interviewer. My eyes focused on her. The question reeled in my mind, and I blinked fast and hard in order to make sure the tears wouldn't come falling. I played around with the ring on my finger, then broke into a small laugh. "Trust," I said finally. "There is someone who trusts me, and even though I have let them down once, I am determined to never do it again."She smiled. "There has been gossip around the...""You said that was your last question."She smiled a little shyly. "How about one more?"I bit down on my lips. I knew what she was going to ask. Everyone knew Florian had died a year ago. Everyone knew I was here because he handed everything to me. And the
My eyes opened to the dim lights of a painfully familiar hotel room. My lips parted as a silent tear ran down the edge of my left cheek. I sat up slowly, my legs drawn to me. The room felt so ghostly. So empty. Like it had been stripped of everything that ever made it come alive. Like it had been stripped of what it used to be.I looked around. On the dresser was Florian's phone, a bouquet of flowers, a wrapped item, and his gun. I swallowed hard, my heart breaking all over again.Seeing the gun reminded me of just how real this was. That my Florian was truly dead, and I was the reason for it. That my Florian would never come back, and it's all because of me.I stumbled out of bed and walked towards the dresser, my eyes falling on my reflection. I looked like a ghost of myself. Nothing like the woman who had been so properly loved just hours ago.My knees felt weak, and I grabbed the edge of the dresser to keep stable, my heart pounding in my chest.I reached for the flowers first,
My world crashed and burned right in front of my very eyes. I leaned to Florian, my mind knowing exactly what had happened. He was gone. The bullet of my betrayal still embedded in his chest, the tears that I put in his eyes forever there.But my heart... my heart refused to believe me. We shared a kiss in bed just hours ago. He lay hid head on my lap and laughed like the entire world was beautiful. He told me that he loved me. That he always wanted to lay on my lap.I doubt this was how he wanted it to be. I doubt he wanted to be on my lap, dead. I doubt he wanted to see me cry."Florian?"There was no answer. The night was quiet, like even the world knew I had lost my heart. Not just a piece. Now, just a part of me. Roxanne, as I knew her, was dead with Florian. "We were going for dinner, remember?""Miss?" One of the doctors said, and I looked up, shaking my head. "Shhh, Florian hates noise. He also hates my tears, so why is he letting me cry?"I looked down at him. He looked
I gasped, my breaths stopping in my throat, my eyes flying open. Florian was still standing in front of me, his hand wrapped around the gun, his eyes wide. I almost didn't want to look down. Hell, I hated that it felt almost compulsive for me to look down.My chest heaved, and I felt my heart strings pull farther than I ever expected. I could feel the sticky wetness on my face. I could feel it on my hands, but hell, I hoped something had spat on me, and it wasn't what I was thinking.I slowly looked down, and I gave a small yelp, my eyes immediately filling with tears. I shot Florian. I really did shoot him.I slowly looked back up, and he was still watching me, his eyes darting across both of mine."Florian," I managed to say, taking a step even further. As if that was all he needed, his hands let go of the gun, and he fell to the floor at my feet."Florian!" I screamed, my hands immediately letting go of the gun too.I went on my knees, my hands cupping his face, the blood stains