Chapter 81
[SAMANTHA’s Point of View]
“Devon, Diana!” I exclaimed when I got into my room with my children crying in horror and pain. I wrapped my arms around them, tight enough to make them know I was there, and everything would be alright. “I’m here. Mommy’s here.” I kept whispering to them as I kissed the tops of their heads with tears on the corners of my eyes. Diana was so scared; she was trembling from head to foot. The sweetest thing Devon did that brought ache to my heart was when he reached for his sister’s hand and squeezed it to calm her as he fought his own fears.
“Mommy, what happened! It hurts! It hurts so bad!” Diana cried as she buried her face on my chest. “I’m so scared, Mom!”
“I’m sorry,” I answered with trembling lips, trying my best not to make my voice crack in front of my kids. “I’m sorry, you have to experience something like this. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about this.” My tears trickled down my face as guilt and fear crawled up to my throat, almost choking me. “I’m sorry, I didn’t tell you.”
“It hurts,” Devon cried as he shut his eyes tight. “It feels like I was burning alive and my bones—”
“Shhh...” I kissed Devon’s hair as I held him tighter, “I know, Devon, I know...” I sobbed as I rocked back and forth with my twins, “I’m so sorry...” I kept on whispering in their ears as the three of us cried. I felt Madison, Cynthia, and Ethan leave the room quietly, closing the door behind them to give me time to calm my babies down.
Too focused on my twins, I didn’t notice the door opened again. Someone put a blanket around me and the twins, and when I lifted my tear-smeared face, it was Lena. I was surprised to see her; I never expected she would come back after I saw her terrified face when she left the house.
Lena looked at me with sad, apologetic eyes. I gave her a short, gentle nod to tell her I understand why she acted so harshly after what happened to Devon and Diana. Seeing her guilt was enough to show that she wished she had never done that. She mouthed sorry to me and I reached for her hand and squeezed it.
“Granny,” Diana reached for Lena, wanting the old woman to carry her while Devon was in my arms, finding comfort with my warmth. Lena was surprised that little Diana asked for her and immediately took Diana from me and embraced her.
“I’m so scared.” Diana pouted her lips to her granny with her eyes still teary. “I saw a wolf and she... she talked to me! I heard her in my head.”