Truth Out Of Darkness
Chapter 7
"No, I don't love him."
"Then why do you want to be with him?" Brady asked gently.
"Because he loves me! He adores me. And you know what? That's a nice feeling!" she cried passionately. "Do you know what it's like, Brady, to go years without anyone ever telling you that they loved you? That was my life before I came here. And then suddenly there's Phillip who's sweet, and sensitive, and he loves me! And you want me to throw all that away. For what?! So I can be alone again?!" she cried. Hot tears ran down her cheeks and her lips trembled.
"Chloe," he began, suddenly moved with compassion for her. He wanted to reach out and take her pain away.
She wiped her cheeks and looked at Brady. "I didn't used to be so soft. But that's the price you pay when you let people in – let them get close. I mean, I've endured things in 5 years that most people won't go through in a lifetime. Back then; love was the least of my worries. But now…(she began, choking back sobs) now the thought of not having love in my life terrifies me. I can't go through that again. I don't want to be alone." Chloe covered her face with her hands and cried silently, her shoulders shaking.
"Hey, come here." Brady wrapped his strong arms around her and pulled her close, so her head was on his chest. He just held her while she sobbed. He murmured soothing words to her and stroked her hair. He had just learned the real reason why she couldn't let Phillip go. Her long past of pain and abandonment had scarred her deeply, causing her to run into the arms of the first man who said he loved her.
I could tell her, Brady thought. I could tell her my feelings. No, I want her to be with me because she loves me. She has to get over Phillip on her own, before I say anything.
"Listen to me Chloe," he said softly while rocking her gently. "No matter what happens with Phillip, or what happens in life, know that you will never be alone. I will always be here for you. I promise."
Her crying began to quiet down and still he held her. She had never released her emotions before like this and she felt drained. She was so tired; she just let Brady take care of her. It felt so good to be in his arms. She felt a security she had never known before. Her mind was opened to a simple truth. Brady would never hurt her. Phillip always has.
Snippets of previous conversations replayed in her mind. Advice from her mother, harsh truths from Brady. She felt the calm after her violent storm of emotions. She pulled away from Brady and looked deep in his eyes at the tenderness, concern, and warmth reflected there. So different from Phillip's eyes. She finally accepted what she had to do. I'm letting you go, Phillip. And with that silent declaration, a huge weight fell from her shoulders, one she hadn't realized she carried.
"Okay, Brady. Tomorrow after school, I'm going to end things with Phillip." She said earnestly.
"Listen, Chloe. I didn't mean to upset you. If you love Phillip, then I understand. I just want you to be happy." He looked directly into her blue eyes.
She gave him a small smile. "We've already established that I don't love Phillip, and I haven't been happy, with him anyway, for a long time. It's the right thing to do, and I feel good about it." She gave him a quick hug. "I didn't get much sleep last night and all this drama has worn me out. I'm gonna go home and crash – and plan what I'm going to say to Phillip."
"Just tell him the truth. He probably already knows." He flashed a brilliant smile and closed the door behind her. He walked back into the living room. He closed his eyes and remembered how good it felt to hold her in his arms.
Soon, Chloe, you will be free. And I will show you what true love is.
Chapter 7
"No, I don't love him."
"Then why do you want to be with him?" Brady asked gently.
"Because he loves me! He adores me. And you know what? That's a nice feeling!" she cried passionately. "Do you know what it's like, Brady, to go years without anyone ever telling you that they loved you? That was my life before I came here. And then suddenly there's Phillip who's sweet, and sensitive, and he loves me! And you want me to throw all that away. For what?! So I can be alone again?!" she cried. Hot tears ran down her cheeks and her lips trembled.
"Chloe," he began, suddenly moved with compassion for her. He wanted to reach out and take her pain away.
She wiped her cheeks and looked at Brady. "I didn't used to be so soft. But that's the price you pay when you let people in – let them get close. I mean, I've endured things in 5 years that most people won't go through in a lifetime. Back then; love was the least of my worries. But now…(she began, choking back sobs) now the thought of not having love in my life terrifies me. I can't go through that again. I don't want to be alone." Chloe covered her face with her hands and cried silently, her shoulders shaking.
"Hey, come here." Brady wrapped his strong arms around her and pulled her close, so her head was on his chest. He just held her while she sobbed. He murmured soothing words to her and stroked her hair. He had just learned the real reason why she couldn't let Phillip go. Her long past of pain and abandonment had scarred her deeply, causing her to run into the arms of the first man who said he loved her.
I could tell her, Brady thought. I could tell her my feelings. No, I want her to be with me because she loves me. She has to get over Phillip on her own, before I say anything.
"Listen to me Chloe," he said softly while rocking her gently. "No matter what happens with Phillip, or what happens in life, know that you will never be alone. I will always be here for you. I promise."
Her crying began to quiet down and still he held her. She had never released her emotions before like this and she felt drained. She was so tired; she just let Brady take care of her. It felt so good to be in his arms. She felt a security she had never known before. Her mind was opened to a simple truth. Brady would never hurt her. Phillip always has.
Snippets of previous conversations replayed in her mind. Advice from her mother, harsh truths from Brady. She felt the calm after her violent storm of emotions. She pulled away from Brady and looked deep in his eyes at the tenderness, concern, and warmth reflected there. So different from Phillip's eyes. She finally accepted what she had to do. I'm letting you go, Phillip. And with that silent declaration, a huge weight fell from her shoulders, one she hadn't realized she carried.
"Okay, Brady. Tomorrow after school, I'm going to end things with Phillip." She said earnestly.
"Listen, Chloe. I didn't mean to upset you. If you love Phillip, then I understand. I just want you to be happy." He looked directly into her blue eyes.
She gave him a small smile. "We've already established that I don't love Phillip, and I haven't been happy, with him anyway, for a long time. It's the right thing to do, and I feel good about it." She gave him a quick hug. "I didn't get much sleep last night and all this drama has worn me out. I'm gonna go home and crash – and plan what I'm going to say to Phillip."
"Just tell him the truth. He probably already knows." He flashed a brilliant smile and closed the door behind her. He walked back into the living room. He closed his eyes and remembered how good it felt to hold her in his arms.
Soon, Chloe, you will be free. And I will show you what true love is.