Chapter 10
The next day, I found a note on the kitchen table. It was my father's handwriting, with two words on it.
I'm sorry.
Well, that solved the mystery of how Azriel came to know about this place. It didn't matter. I was not angry. I was not sad. I was empty, tired. The spark of feelings in me had withered and I had no idea how to revive it.
In the days that followed, Azriel made a habit of lingering. I noticed him flying in at dusk, possibly after finishing his duties. He never imposed himself on me, he was just…there.
As I moved inside, he followed from outside. The porch around the villa had a thick, low wall for comfortable seating which he took advantage of. Every room I was in the ground floor, I could see him out the window, seating on the porch wall. He was in his usual leathers and cloak, and I could see the dim light emanating from his chest and the back of his hands. His head was always turned the way, as if he was looking out, but I knew he watched me when I wasn't looking at him.
I let him be. I didn't want to talk to him, let alone argue and send him away.
He perched on the balcony wall when I was in my bed, and the only room he couldn't look into was the bathroom. However, I could see him from the window, on the porch railing directly underneath it.
As it was, he was comfortable. He had his cloak to protect himself from the cold, and I'm sure he ate during the day.
He was waiting for me to willingly let him in. And for that, I hoped he the patience of a saint because this wasn't going to be easy.
•~᯽~•