D&S

Chapter # 22

Ester, I know there are thorns in our path; refraining us to move forward. Obstacles, trying to stop us but despite all of this, I want us to move forward, together.

***

In the evening, I returned to the pillar of my broken home. The one who gave a meaning to my life and made everything so memorable. A harmony engraved in my soul letting me live the moment I died for.

The life I thought slipped out of my grasp. What left me crushed but she gathered what broke years ago. But, still there is an uneasiness lingering in my heart and not letting me accept the fact; what happened to Grace is not my fault.

When this poison is induced inside me for all this time, I think it would be hard to suck. I hope one day I will be liberated from those shackles.

I am thankful for Ester, for changing both me and herself. How we both blend in agony which leads us to the paths of eternal devotion. I love how things have changed.

She is trying to fix my shattered pieces when she is weak herself and I also wanted to do something for her. When she is the one who needs redemption; she becomes my salvation.

I cannot let her be an introvert anymore, I have to eradicate her delusions. She lives inside her fantasies where she lives for others.

Not caring about herself but I want her to live a life she has never been able to live... a happy life. When my cold walls are melting, I want to fulfill her wishes as well.

I went home and saw Ester pacing around the hall. She seemed stressed, rubbing her hands together. She was just fine in the morning. What happened to her now?

I entered and called her in concern, "Ester. Are you alright?" She looked at me and passed me a faint smile, "Yeah.. "She said nervously.

"You sure?" I raised an eyebrow at her.

She tugged a strand of her hair behind her ear and replied, "Yeah. Don't worry about it."

I shrugged my shoulders and went to our room and freshened up. When I walked out of the room, I saw her still walking around.

"So.. Are you going to tell me or not?" I walked up to her and gave her shoulders an assuring squeeze.

"Desmond... " She called my name with a glint of fear in her voice. I looked at her confused as she put her hands over mine and averted her gaze.

She took a deep breath and began to say in a hoarse whisper, "I am scared."

"Of what?" I whispered back.

"I don't think someone weak as me could do anything other than crying at the ravage." She whispered in a croaked voice.

I looked at her compassionately and wrapped my arms around her, pulling her in my embrace.

"You are not alone." I murmured as I kissed her forehead.

"I don't know.. " She said, at the verge of crying, holding my shirt.

"Don't cry. We can do this together. Don't be afraid." I tried to reassure her, wanting to obliterate the word 'Weak' etched in her mind.

"I'll try." She breathed out and pulled away slowly.

"Don't worry." I said sincerely. She nodded and passed me a smile. "I can do it." She tried to say firmly. "You can." I enunciated.

"Ester, Shall we go out for dinner?" I asked after a few moments of silence. Her smile became radiant as she shook her head hastily. I chuckled and said, "I will take out your dress." I said with a smile.