Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

Chapter 295

I heard my father's voice. "Mae, let's go stargazing tonight. I'll count the stars with you."

"Mae, be a good girl and eat your medicine, alright?"

"Mae..."

"Mom! Dad!" I cried.

I reached for them, but something pinned my hands down. Someone was calling my name. "Mae. Mae, wake up... Wake up..."

I I felt someone cup my face, and the next second, I was staring at Brandon's anxious face. His thumb brushed my cheek as he murmured, "Mae, it's me."

It was Brandon. I snapped out of the painful dream, but the hurt was even more vivid now that I was fully awake.

I bit my lower lip hard enough that I might have drawn blood if Brandon hadn't stopped me. He gently pried my lips open as he said, "Mae, don't hurt yourself. Let go... Come on, sweetheart."

my parents had. I saw images of my

me into his arms, and I buried my face in his shoulder as I sobbed. My fists thumped against

so full of love, yet their lives ended

helpless against it. It made me want to tear myself into pieces to end the m However, Brandon held me firmly enough to

my outburst. I did not dream this time. When I

was unlikely to

anymore. He helped me up and picked up the glass of warm water on the nightstand. He brought it to my lips and waited for me to take

my hand trembled as it clasped around the

firmly as he tipped the rim against my

of my mouth, but Brandon wiped it off. I glanced at the weary expression on his

time is it?" I

pm," he answered. He added for good measure, "It's

say something, but he patted my head affectionately and asked, "Are you

anything. As such, I nodded and said, "I want. oatmeal. With berries

nodded. "All right. Anything