Chapter 71

Alexi steps towards me and I step back. A clear signal I don't want him near me, and he relents. Stopping himself and moves away instead, to give me space, the flicker of pain evident as his eyes dip to avoid me for a second. A show of real emotion. Who knew he was capable of such things? Capable of showing me he is human after all. It just makes the ache grow, spreading from my stomach out to every limb and even my face trembles with the agony I'm feeling. "You were always worthy. I just screwed everything up. I was scared, I was torn, I was lost in my own mistrust of you. Blinded by what I believed. I was protecting myself." He sounds how I feel. Like he knows that this is pointless, and the past is more than can be overcome. "So, what changed?" My voice cracks, face wet with my sadness, and I curl my arms around myself and try to give self-comfort from the internal pangs running through me. Clawing for answers to the mountain of