NOVEL NEXT Chapter 14: 14. Is This Closure?
SONG RECOMMENDATION – SAVE YOUR TEARS – The Weeknd
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Willow looked between the two, still unable to comprehend what was really going on. But as the order had been given she had to obey and she left. Many questions filled her mind, yet she didn't know who to ask.
Left alone, neither closed the distance but they never broke eye contact either and the silence stretched, tension growing thicker and when it almost became suffocating, Lloyd took the first step forward.
Anna almost instinctively took a step back, but she managed to remain standing as he approached her. Her breath caught in her throat the moment she caught a whiff of his cologne.
"Llo…" Anna tried to speak but couldn't. The fact that he stopped just a three feet distance from her didn't aid her already nervous nerves, and her vocal cord just stopped functioning too.
"Why are you doing here?" He asked, his tone lacking any warmth she used to know him to possess. It was as if the man who just moments ago was all warm and tender with Pearl wasn't him.
Anna once again opened her mouth but couldn't utter a single word. It was her fault he was angry. She had hurt him even though all she wanted was to protect him, and now, here she was, facing the consequences of her actions and choices.
Lloyd looked at her and saw her open and close her mouth without saying a word, and it rubbed him in all the wrong ways that it could. Did she have no reason for coming here? Did she think he would believe that this was purely coincidence? She must think he was a fool if she ever thought that.
"I want you to leave her alone. Whatever your reason for coming here is, keep it away from her and keep your distance too because if you don't, I can't promise I'll be so kind as to forgive, and forget about me ever forgetting either," Lloyd said and took a step to the side as he intended to walk past her.
Anna quickly grabbed his arm, halting him. The tears that never truly dried from her eyes returned, threatening to spill even harder. Hearing those hurtful words from him shartterd her world and threatened to destroy the hope she had on a reunion.
She opened her mouth to speak, but all it did was quiver.
He glanced at her, but when she still didn't speak, he tried to shrug off her hand, but she increased the strength of her grip, refusing to let go. Lloyd sighed and stood still.
"Lloyd please…" she pleaded but said nothing more. There was so much to say, but none of them could make it out.
He closed his eyes, sighed and turned to face her again but nearly regretted it when she threw herself at him, burying her face in his chest and her hands wound around his body. Lloyd stood there frozen, not sure what he should do, and in the end, he dropped his hands by his sides. He heard her sobs and felt her tears soak his clothes, but he did nothing. If crying would help realize where she stood, then the least he could grant her that one little thing.
Perhaps this was the closure she wanted. The closure he needed.
Minutes later, Anna was calm, and she stepped away, wiping her tears. Although he didn't do even as little as touch her the whole time, she didn't mind. He didn't push her away, and that was what mattered. She felt his warmth again. It was comfortable, just as she remembered it to be, although there was a distance between that created a sudden iciness within that warmth.
"I am sorry that I ruined your shirt…" she said while trying to clean the spot where her tears and makeup smeared on on his chest.
Lloyd looked at her. It would be a lie if he said he felt nothing hearing her cry like that. Feeling her tears warm and raw against his skin through his clothes. It took every strength he could muster to keep his hand beside him and not hold her, hug her, and whimper words of comfort. But he knew not to make that mistake. It might end up costing more than he could afford.
"It looks better now," Anna said. She tried to smile, but it wasn't appearing. His gaze remained steady on her, but spoke nothing. Meeting the intensity of his gaze made her uneasy, and she lowered her gaze, but only for a moment. "I…"
Anna began, but he interrupted her. His tone was unfriendly as it was earlier, once again cutting deep into her heart. "Are you satisfied?" When she didn't reply, he lifted her chin, holding her gaze. "Are you satisfied with what you've seen? Or did you expect something else?"
Anna could hear her heart drumming in her ears. Her mouth ran dry and lacked proper words to speak. Her lips quivered as they parted to speak, but still, nothing.
Seeing her struggle like that, Lloyd could no longer look at her. He let go of her chin and turned, his back to her, his fist clenched and teeth gritted. He didn't like the way she still affected him. His mother was right. He never moved on even when he thought he did, and now…. She still has so much power over him. He hated it. But he couldn't help it either.
"Why?" He asked for the first time since their meeting there was a different emotion in his voice other than anger. Anna could hear it, and she understood it perfectly well. "Is this closure?" He asked even though he had already accepted that possibility as the only reason.
Seeing his hands clenched so tightly, her heart squeezed too, and she took a step towards him, closing the little distance between them. Reaching out, she held his hand and then felt it ease and unclench under her touch. She smiled subtly, knowing she also affected him the same way he affected her even now.
"My love…" Anna began, but a woman's voice from the entrance cut short her words, and she frowned. Not for the interruption but because of the way she had called his name.