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."

parents had. I saw images of my parents, and I couldn't help the scream that escaped

sobbed. My fists thumped against his solid frame. No

been so full of love, yet their lives ended so

the wound in me opened up. It hurt so much that I could have keeled over, but I was helpless against it. It made me want to

my outburst. I did not dream this time. When I awoke, it was to the warm yellow lights overhead and the

and I was unlikely to have another breakdown. Instead of lashin

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. He brought it to

can drink it myself," I said. It wasn't until my hand trembled as it clasped around the glass that

firmly as he tipped the rim

down the corners of my mouth, but Brandon wiped it off. I glanced at the weary

it?"

answered. He added for good measure, "It's still the

something, but he

by his looks, I reckoned he hadn't eaten anything. As

nodded. "All right. Anything