Chapter 148: Awake
"I was completely terrified when I saw you suddenly appear - it really caught me off guard," Rhys explained in a hushed tone, attempting to keep his voice steady despite the trembling.
"Remember when you said you wouldn’t go off alone?" Rhys asked, taking a deep breath as he observed her breathing, recalling the intense fear he experienced when he couldn’t locate her earlier in the washroom. "You promised that you’d wait for me."
, "I regret not being there," he muttered as he exhaled shakily and kissed her knuckles, squeezing his eyes shut. He had cried more today than ever before.
"You shouldn’t have been alone," he told her. He pondered if she had been frightened, if she had cried for help, or if she had understood the situation. The thought was so painful that his entire body recoiled.
"I’m with you now," he reassured her, sniffling and snuggling closer to her. It felt like his body was enveloped in a warm blanket when he was near her again. "I’ll ensure your safe from nowadays."
"I don’t say it often, but you mean the world to me. Do you know that?" Rhys choked out, his voice sounding feeble as he attempted to swallow down the lump in his throat.
Uncertain if she could hear him, he felt an overwhelming urge to speak to her. With a trembling voice and tears streaming down his face, he buried his face in his hands, trying to stifle his quiet sobs as he expressed his love for her.
Despite feeling like he was the worst thing that had ever happened to her, he couldn’t help but believe that she was the best thing that had ever happened to him.
Rhys’ breathing quickened and he tried to hold back his tears, attempting to clear his misty vision as he settled back onto the bed, refusing to budge.
Her piercing green eyes were all he could think about, longing for them more than anything he had ever wanted. "I won’t leave, I’ll be here when you wake up,"
He reassured her, hoping that the words that once brought him comfort will also bring some to her too. It was his fault, he caused this.