Page 32 of Firefly

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There’s only one thing left to do… go to her.

Some habits never die.

The second I climb onto the Fitzgerald Estate balcony, muscle memory takes over completely.

Three years disappear the moment I slip inside her room.

The moonlight spills across her sleeping body tangled in the blankets.

And fuck… the sight of her nearly destroys me. She’s curled towards me, my old hoodie clutched tightly against her chest.Tears stain her cheeks even in her sleep. I step closer and see her face twist like she’s trapped inside a nightmare… because of me.

A crack splits straight through my chest, and I move toward her slowly before I can stop myself. The mattress dips beneath my weight as I sit beside her.

She whimpers softly in her sleep. “Hayden…” My eyes slam shut briefly.

Jesus Christ.

I reach for her carefully, almost afraid she will disappear if I touch her. But the second I pull her against my chest, her body melts into mine instinctively.

Like home.

A broken breath leaves me as I bury my face in her hair and inhale deeply. Coconut and sea salt.

My Firefly.

God, I missed this.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper against her forehead. “I’m so fucking sorry.”

She shifts slightly, and I see tears slipping from beneath her closed lashes.

“No… don’t leave me…”

The plea guts me alive and my arms tighten around her automatically.

“I’m right here, baby,” I choke. “I got you.” And for a few stolen moments, I let myself pretend nothing happened.

No prison.

No death.

No Brayden.

No hatred.

Just me and my girl again.

I press a kiss softly against her temple. “I love you always, Firefly,” I whisper. “Even when I shouldn’t.”

Then I force myself to let her go before I lose the ability completely. I slide out of her bed, bringing the covers over her and leaving just one more kiss on her tear stained cheek.

God, I wish I could stay but I know I can’t.

So, I stand here staring at her one last time while she sleeps curled around my hoodie and broken dreams.

Leaving hurts worse this time, because now I know she never stopped loving me either.

Ophelia

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