Olivia

Slowly but steadily, Olivia’s body had begun to heal. The attack on her person had been brutal and yet she had still survived.

Her heart on the other hand still bled. It felt to her like the world was grey again. Others made sure she ate, bathed, and got out of bed every day. Olivia couldn’t tell who, just that it happened. It was in the soft voices crooning to her late at night, the gentle but firm hands bending her arms into clothes, the soothing feel of warm water against her bare skin. Someone cared enough to make sure she lived and after some time that was what brought her back to herself.

It wasn’t a gradual thing, just one day she blinked, and she knew the world was there again. The pain was still raw, a festering wound in her heart that made it hard to breath if she focused too hard on it.

After that one moment, she took the time to look around her house. It was still well kept but untidy and as she turned her head she looked into the eyes of a friend. Upon meeting her eyes, Olivia watched the tears build before she was pulled into a tight hug, sobbing right along with her, listening absently as she cried about how they thought they’d lost her, and Elijah had been going spare.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

As soon as his name was out of her mouth, her friend had risen, moving to speak to someone softly outside of the door. Olivia had still to speak, but she was content to be in company for now.

A few minutes later, Olivia jumped as the door flew open to reveal her husband. He looked haggard and Olivia began to feel something beyond the smothering grief. Worry. He looked like death.

He studied her warily and she wanted nothing more to be held by him. She wondered idly how long it had been since she had accepted his touch.

She held her arms out toward him weakly, struggling to keep her arms up as she stared into his eyes.

With a heaving sob she was cradled in his arms, and they were crying but it felt different than before, when she could feel tears running down her cheeks without thought.

This was a sharing of the pain and Olivia thought maybe, just maybe things could be alright again one day.