Chapter 69: Thinking About him
In the middle of the night, Naomi tossed and turned in her bed, unable to understand why sleep continued to elude her. Her eyes were heavy with dark circles, but despite her exhaustion, she couldn’t bring herself to rest. She wanted to sleep, yet there was something keeping her wide awake. Why was this happening to her? Was it because she missed Zylan?
But that seemed impossible. How could she be missing him after just one day? It felt absurd, and yet... what if he was actually staying away for more than just one day? What would she have done? She needed to remember that Zylan wasn’t the kind of person to stay predictable for long. She knew how unpredictable he was. He could disappear without notice, and that made it all the more important to guard her emotions. She couldn’t allow herself to be hurt again.
She clenched her fists under the covers, fighting the wave of emotions trying to overwhelm her. Naomi had been through so much already, and though she had been trying to convince herself she was okay, deep down, she knew this was different. She had to guard her heart more than ever, even if it meant holding back feelings she wasn’t ready to confront. He wasn’t the type to let people get too close. He would vanish again, just like last time, without a single word. That’s what he was, wasn’t it? Unpredictable. Free. So why was she feeling this way now?
With a sigh, Naomi reluctantly sat up in bed and walked toward the window. The cool night air greeted her as she opened it just a crack. She leaned her body against the window frame, staring up at the night sky, hoping that somehow the answers would come to her. Why was she feeling this way? Why couldn’t she just accept the distance between them? The wind tugged at her hair as she stood there, letting the coldness calm her thoughts. But soon enough, the chill started seeping into her bones, and she closed the window, drawing a deep breath.
She whispered quietly to herself, "What’s happening to me?"
Naomi’s reflection in the glass seemed distant, almost unfamiliar. Who was she? Was she really the same person she had been when she first met Zylan? Had he somehow changed her without her realizing it? The soft rustle of her hair against the window frame seemed like a stark reminder of how little control she had over her own emotions. She had to stop thinking about him. She had to focus. There were bigger things to worry about than her feelings.
Finally, she lay back down, closed her eyes, and allowed sleep to overtake her. The rest she had been craving finally came, though it wasn’t long before morning arrived.
A soft knock on the door pulled Naomi from her slumber. Her eyes fluttered open, still tired and heavy with the remnants of restless sleep. The dark circles beneath her eyes were a stark reminder of how little rest she’d gotten the night before. Rhea entered the room, her smile faltering as she noticed Naomi’s fatigued appearance.
"Good morning, Miss Naomi. I see you didn’t rest well," Rhea said gently.