My Fate

Raven

I tried to hold back my tears, but I couldn't stop the thoughts of abandonment from rolling in my mind. I’d always considered myself to be a strong woman. You know, someone who could overcome anything. Who could stand in front of a challenge and laugh, then go ahead and pull it down under my feet.

It had always been like that, from the days of college up to now. It’s why my family’s media company was ranked among the top five media houses in the country. I was a strong force of power.

Or I used to be.

I was in the passenger seat, looking out the window as Leo drove. It was pretty outside; the sun was a huge yellow globe in the bright blue sky. Tall buildings cast shadows over us as we passed by. Everyone from different walks of life roamed about, either walking alone or with someone by their side.

It all seemed peaceful, like life was going on. But right now, I felt anything but. At this point, life wasn't something I felt like living.

It was only when I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to look at Leo that I realized I was crying.

His dark eyes brushed my face, unreadable as he gave me a quick glance before settling his gaze on the road ahead. His jaw ticked. “What did they say to you?”

I looked away, focusing my eyes back on the road. We were now driving by the beach. “Nothing.” My words rang thick in the air and I knew he knew that was a lie.

The silence that followed was a giveaway.

The last thing I wanted to do was talk about how much of a betrayal my entire family was to me to some stranger.

Tears kept rolling down my face. I was trying as much as possible to get a hold of myself, to stay calm. My shoulders shook. It was like the question he asked unlocked something deep inside me.

But he didn’t do anything. Neither did he say a word. He just sat by me, silently driving.

“Stop the car,” I sniffed. I couldn’t hold it in any longer.

He didn’t wait for me to repeat myself. He swerved towards the side and into the beach before halting the car. I opened the door and bolted out, heading straight towards the ocean and stopping a few inches away from the water, thankful that the beach was empty.

Why did it hurt so bad?

My tears kept dropping as I ran a hand through my hair. The wind blew through it, scattering the long locks on my face, making the sundress I wore dance on my body.

I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me so badly. To ease me from the pain I felt.

I felt a movement behind me. I didn’t have to turn to see that it was Leo. He was speaking softly, probably on the phone because I couldn’t hear him clearly. I was too overwhelmed with my emotions.

My sobs were heavy, and my head pounded, my blurry gaze sweeping over the sea.

I remained there, pouring out my heart through my tears.

What I was doing was only for now. I needed to let it all out. To cry, then it’ll all be fine. It was what I kept telling myself until Leo’s arm wrapped around me from behind.

My heart flipped on instinct, shocked at the action. I wanted to turn around, struggling a little, but he held me in place.

“Stay in my arms for a while.” His voice was raspy in my ear, the danger usually in his voice was turned to… comfort.

That stopped my struggling. My eyes were wide, still trying to comprehend what was going on. It took me a while to relax, and soon I realized I’d stopped crying.

“You good now?” he said, his voice like a warm touch against my ears.

“Yes,” I breathed.

Why on earth did he get so close to me? Not that my body hated it, but still…

He placed his hand on my shoulders and turned me around to face him. To say I was hit with his eyes was an understatement. It was more like a slam.

Hazel against dark eyes.

He scanned my face, his eyes unreadable. Still dangerous.

A shiver went through me at our closeness. This man could break me if he wanted to, with the sheer size difference between the two of us, but at this moment, I’d never felt safe. My body wanted to take a step back and raise my walls high, pretending like I didn’t just bawl my eyes out right in front of him. While something inside of me, I didn’t know what it was, wanted to settle in his arms again. To bask in his body warmth.

Yes, it was what I needed. Comfort. But was I going to get comfort from some stranger?

No.

I cleared my throat, breaking the silence between us before taking a step back. I looked everywhere else but at him. He kept staring down at me, studying me. For a minute, I wanted to know what he was thinking. But that thought left my mind the second it crossed it. He was definitely thinking I was some weak woman who was stupid enough to lose everything.

Without a word, I started to walk back to the car. Footsteps behind me told me he was coming too, and just like earlier, in silence, he drove us out of the beach and into the streets, taking me to secure my fate.