Free

When Mr Gold came back, Belle had already packed up her things and was ready to go. He took the little suitcase Ruby had brought her the day after her accident, and without a word, he showed her the exit. She smiled, shyly, both happy and excited to finally leave this place, but also a bit afraid of what she would find outside. She knew people knew her – or at least who she used to be – that they would look at her, talk to her even, that she will discover the life she had left and that she needed to find again, even if her new self didn't want it. Lost in her thoughts, she hadn't noticed she had stopped just in front of the door. She looked at Mr Gold, ready to apologize, but he was smiling at her, a soft smile, kind, reassuring.

"I'm sorry... I'm... Afraid..." she said, confused.

"No need to apologize, sweetheart. If you don't feel ready, you can stay here a few more days."

"No!" she exclaimed, and if she thought she had been too bold, she faced his soft laugh rather than his surprise.

"You've always been so brave, Belle. Come, take my arm and hold on to me." he said, and she did so, she put her hands around his arms, and when she felt him tighten his pist on his cane , she tightened her hold on his arm, took a deep breath, and they both came across the door.

Outside, the air was warmer than she expected. The first thing she noticed was all the noises trying to invade her head, especially the new ones that she couldn't identify as the light was blinding her. Only Mr Gold's regular breath reassured her. Rapidly, her sight became clear, and she could see the streets, the cars, the people.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes, sorry. Everything is a bit... confusing. Both strange and familiar. Like... I know I knew those streets, those faces, I know I've seen them thousand times before, but I just... I don't remember seeing them."

"And you're afraid."

"Sorry?"

"Afraid that this old life you've forgotten isn't what you expect, that the person you are now is going to be disappointed, that this life you so much want to take back isn't, in the end, what you really want..."

His voice sounded so sad it broke Belle's heart. But rapidly, he talked again.

"But perhaps this... amnesia you see like a curse is more of a blessing. The opportunity to start something new. With nothing to fear, no one to judge you neither. The opportunity to discover new places, meet new people..."

"I don't think I would want that new life. All I want is get to know the girl I used to be. And get to know you, too. We have to help each other, remember? I have to help you remember who you are. And I most definitely will." she said with a huge smile, making all the fear and sadness in his eyes disappear.

"You've always been too kind to me... Come on, I'll show you the town."

"I..."

"Yes?"

"I actually remember something. I remember that I've been to the asylum...before. And that someone released me and guided me to your shop. I... I think I'd like to see it. Perhaps I will recover some of my memories there..."

"Sure. It's this way."

She gladly followed him, but this time, she didn't hold on his arm, feeling the need to stand for herself. Mr Gold didn't frown, but he walked a bit faster, as if he wanted to end this uncomfortable silence as soon as possible. Belle felt sorry for him, but didn't knew what to say, afraid she would say something wrong and afraid that, even if he didn't tell, he was in a way angry with her, the girl who took his lover away. What she didn't know, was that Mr Gold wasn't angry at all. He was just as afraid as she was. He wanted to take her hand, to tell her he loved her, that everything was going to be fine, but he didn't dare. He was too afraid, afraid of seeing the shy but beautiful smile on her face disappear, to frighten her as he did the day which followed her ''accident''. Afraid of losing her once again. Indeed, when he thought about it, he realized he was for her nothing more than a stranger who promised things he wasn't even sure he could bring her. But then, since he didn't know how to bring her memories back, he had at least to try, because she deserved it, and because everything she had been through was all his fault.