Chapter Forty

"You really are back…" he whispered and buried his face into the crook of my neck.

His arms wrapped around me tightly and I was pulled into an almost suffocating hug. I squealed in response as I was squashed against him and for several moments, I simply sat there awkwardly, waiting for him to pull away.

Eventually, he did and he held me at arm's length so that he could inspect me again.

"Ali, it's been a whole week already…"

"I know, little sky. I know. But that doesn't make this any easier to accept," he sighed. "You're the same person, but at the same time, I feel like I don't know who you are. I've missed out on so much. I've missed out on you growing up, Kalster and that makes things difficult. Sometimes, I don't know how I should act or behave. I still feel like you're the same kid from back then and I just react based on what I remember of you, but you're much stronger than that now, aren't you? Much, much stronger."

"I'm sorry for changing, Ali."

"Don't be. It's not your fault.