Chapter 222

"I remember stargazing with my mother," Xavier’s voice was soft, careful not to break the delicate moment we had stolen from the mess of our life.

"You remember your mother? Lucky you," I replied.

"She was kind. Kinder than most people I've met. She was like that cool breeze on a hot summer day that makes you feel like everything would be okay," Xavier reminisced.

He hadn’t talked about her in a long time, but being up here, so high above the rest of the world, he felt like he could tell me anything and be understood. He had a lot to say that he had been keeping inside for too long.

"You miss her," I added.

"Since her death, Father became a much harsher man. Once the only source of empathy and kindness was gone from my life, he made sure I never talked about her. Even to myself," Xavier confessed, his gaze still fixed on the sky.

Without thinking, my hand found Xavier’s. In that moment, it felt right.

He looked at me, surprised at the initiative I had taken. I looked at his eyes, "You