Love's Redemption

Redmption 295

I heard my father's voice. "Mae, let's go stargazing tonight. I'll count the stars with you."

"Mae, be a good girl and eat your medicine, alright?"

"Mae..."

"Mom! Dad!" I cried.

I reached for them, but something pinned my hands down. Someone was calling my name. "Mae. Mae, wake up... Wake up..."

| I felt someone cup my face, and the next second, I was staring at Brandon's anxious face. His thumb brushed my cheek as he murmured, "Mae, it's

It was Brandon. I snapped out of the painful dream, but the hurt was even more vivid now that I was fully awake.

I bit my lower lip hard enough that I might have drawn blood if Brandon hadn't stopped me. He gently pried my lips open as he said, “Mae, don't hurt y He was calling me by my old nickname, the way my parents had. I saw images of my parents, and I couldn't help the scream that escaped me. Brandon pulled me into his arms, and I buried my face in his shoulder as I sobbed. My fists thumped against his solid frame. No one knew how upset My parents-they had been so full of love, yet their lives ended so abruptly and horrifically.

I couldn't accept it, and the more I cried, the more the wound in me opened up. It hurt so much that I could have keeled over, but I was helpless agains However, Brandon held me firmly enough to keep me from hurting myself. Lost in my fit, I bit him hard on the shoulder.

Once again, I passed out amid my outburst. I did not dream this time. When I awoke, it was to the warm yellow lights overhead and the man slumped

1 vaguely recalled what I did before darkness claimed me, and I closed my eyes in exhaustion. I was still hurting, but my emotions were in check, and

"Do you want water?" Brandon asked softly the moment he sensed I was awake, though he remained slumped over the bedside.

I hummed quietly, mostly so he

would not fret over me anymore. He

helped me up and picked up the glass of warm water on the nightstand. He brought it to my lips

and waited for me to take a sip.

"I can drink it myself," I said. It wasn't until my hand trembled as it clasped around the glass that I realized how weak I was.

"Drink," Brandon said gently but firmly as he tipped the rim against my lips.

I gulped down half a glass. Water spilled down the corners of my mouth, but Brandon wiped it off.. glanced at the weary expression on his face, then at the sky outside the window.

"What time is it?" I dared ask.

"It's 10:00 pm," he answered. He added for good measure, "It's still the same day."Property © NôvelDrama.Org.

I parted my lips to say something, but he patted my head affectionately and asked, "Are you hungry?"

I wasn't, but judging by his looks, I reckoned he hadn't eaten anything. As such, I nodded and said, "I want. oatmeal. With berries and syrup."

He nodded. “All right. Anything else?"

What else?

I thought about the flatbread my mom used to make for me and told him I wanted those, too. He agreed readily and probed, "Is there anything else you I shook my head.

"That's all,” I said. "I'll have whatever appetizer you have."

Brandon's warm palm ruffled my hair. “Give me a moment. I'll have someone deliver the food."

With that, he took out his phone and began texting. I didn't know who he was texting, nor did I ask.

I stared at the ceiling numbly, the

hollowness in me foreign and

isolating. When my phone rang Brandon grabbed it and did not hand it over immediately. He glanced at the caller ID and said, "It's Conrad."