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."

was calling me by my old nickname, the way my parents had. I saw images of my parents, and I couldn't help the scream

I buried my face in his shoulder as I sobbed. My fists thumped against his solid frame. No one knew how

so full of love,

It made me want to tear myself into pieces to end the m However, Brandon held me firmly enough to keep me

I awoke, it was to the warm yellow lights overhead and

vaguely recalled what I did before darkness claimed me, and I closed my eyes in exhaustion. I was still hurting, but my emotions were in check, and I was unlikely to have another breakdown. Instead of lashin "Do you want water?" Brandon asked softly the moment he sensed I was awake, though he remained slumped over the

hummed quietly, mostly so he would not fret over me anymore. He helped me up and picked up the glass of warm water on the nightstand.

hand trembled as it clasped around the glass that I realized how

as

half a glass. Water spilled down the corners of my mouth, but Brandon wiped it off. I glanced at the weary expression on his face, then at the

is it?"

added for good measure, "It's still

my lips to say something, but he patted my head affectionately

anything. As such, I nodded and said, "I

nodded. "All right. Anything