Chapter 815: Alright.
"Talking might help." Lily’s gaze lingered on the back of the head of the person sitting on the couch, her thoughts swirling with unspoken words. She sighed softly. He had offered to talk, had given her the perfect opportunity to explain everything, but instead, she’d faltered, letting her fear get the better of her. Like a coward, she’d simply shaken her head, muttering that she couldn’t explain it. At least he hadn’t pressed her for more. He’d only nodded in understanding, his silence heavy with acceptance.
Even though he’d told her he’d forgiven her and had even invited her to watch TV with him, the weight of her guilt pressed down on her, refusing to let go. She just couldn’t bring herself to move past it, no matter how much she wanted to. For now, though, she had the convenient excuse of being unwell. So, with that thought in mind, she quietly grabbed the thermos of water she had brought with her, slinking back to the sanctuary of her room.
Once inside, she slipped under the covers, pulling the blanket close as if it could shield her from the turmoil in her mind. She resolutely shut her eyes, hoping that sleep would offer some reprieve from the thoughts that plagued her.
But sleep refused to come.
There was one very odd and frustrating reason for that—she was sensitive to smells. And all she could focus on, as she lay in this bed, was his scent. Despite the fact that he had changed the sheets earlier, it clung to the air, to the pillows, to everything around her. It was as if his presence still lingered next to her, an invisible weight she couldn’t escape.
With a deep, exasperated sigh, Lily reached for her phone, desperate to anchor her mind to anything that didn’t involve Cai. She scrolled through her messages, her eyes scanning the endless string of texts, until finally, she landed on something familiar—Meredith. Thankfully, her friend had sent about a hundred messages since the last time they’d spoken, and it was exactly the distraction Lily needed.
Lily unlocked her phone and scrolled through the endless stream of messages from Meredith. The latest one caught her eye: "Okay, seriously, where are you? Did you drop off the face of the earth or get buried in snow or something? At least tell me that you’ve been kidnapped by some hot alien in that wilderness. It’s been days! Are you okay?"
Lily couldn’t help but smile at her friend’s dramatic concern. She took a moment before typing her response. " Unfortunately, I have not been abducted by a handsome alien. I did fall into the grasp of a fever, but before you bombard me with messages, I am doing better now."