83. Cherish

It felt like falling for the longest time. Floating through a blackness. Halo was there with me, distantly keeping me calm and focused as she looked after Ivan and Kohl. I seemed to land back on the earth and fluttered my eyes.

I didn’t have time to think as before I could even make a sound Ivan was on me. Like a puppy. His body scooped me to him, covering me in kisses, praise and reprimands for being so foolish.

“Cherish, you shouldn’t have risked yourself like that,” he said whilst holding me close to him, fervently kissing my cheeks, waking me from whatever world I’d been travelling in the most delightful way. “I’m meant to look after you, you silly mouse, you silly thing.”

“Ivan,” raising my hand to cup his cheek and smile. “We’re here. We danced, was that real?”

“It was, your lilac dress,” he whispered, “your gorgeous hair curled up and we danced together.”

“And Azalea?”

“Gone, permanently, her mark has been erased from my body. I don’t know if the rejection didn't work or