Nightmares at Everglade Falls

13. Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Ophelia

I pace back and forth, unable to sit still as the weight of his words settles over me like a suffocating blanket.

He is engaged.

He is fucking engaged.

First, the news about my parents, and now this? The more I think about it, the more pissed off I get.

He had no right. No fucking right…

Just as I’m about to collapse onto my bed, I hear a knock at the door. My heart leaps into my throat, and I freeze in place, my pulse pounding in my ears.

With trembling hands, I approach the door and cautiously peek through the peephole. It’s Gabriel.

I hesitate for a moment, unsure of what to do. But then I realize I can’t keep avoiding him. I need to face whatever consequences come my way.

Taking a deep breath, I unlock the door and swing it open, my heart racing with anticipation and fear. “Gabriel,” I say softly, my voice barely a whisper. “What are you doing here?”

He looks at me, his expression unreadable. “Can I come in?” he asks, his voice low and cautious.

I step back, opening the door wider to let him in. He walks past me, and I close the door behind him, my heart pounding in my chest. We stand silently for a moment, unsure what to say.

“Ophelia…”

“Why did you come here? To tell me that it is all complicated and you care? Because I saw it. I know what I felt…You had no right to spring that engagement on me. You could have told me before. You could have fucking told me.” I can feel my anger simmering beneath the surface…that and something a lot more volatile.

“No, Ophelia. This is complicated for both of us.”

“You shouldn’t have come back here, Gabriel.”

“I know.”

There’s a tense silence between us as we grapple with the weight of our pasts. I want to ask him to leave and give me some space to process everything, but I can’t bring myself to say the words.

Instead, I meet his gaze head-on.

Gabriel nods, seeming to accept my answer. “I’m sorry I almost kissed you,” he says suddenly, his voice tinged with regret.

I feel a pang of sadness at his apology. “I accept your apology,” I say quietly, my gaze dropping to the floor. “Now, please... just go.”

He nods, his shoulders slumping in defeat. “I understand,” he says, turning to leave.

But as he reaches the door, something stops him. He turns back to me, his eyes searching mine. “Ophelia,” he says softly, “I... I really am sorry about everything.”

I’m caught off guard by his confession. For a moment, I’m tempted to let him stay, to let him hold me and tell me everything will be okay.

To tell me anything.

But I know it’s not that simple.

So instead, I shake my head, my voice barely a whisper. “Please, just go,” I say again, my heart aching with the weight of my decision.

With one last look, Gabriel nods, his expression filled with sadness and regret. And then he’s gone, leaving me alone with my thoughts and my regrets.

Why is all this happening to me?

Then, there’s a knock at the door. I stand up, wiping away my tears, and open it to find Gabriel standing there.

“I’m sorry,” he says before pulling me into a feverish kiss.

I kiss him back, feeling mixed emotions—confusion, anger, desire.

But at that moment, none of it mattered.

All that matters is the feel of his lips on mine, the warmth of his embrace.

Him.