Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina)

Chapter 253

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Secrets of Us: A Forbidden Love Romance

Chapter 253

I scroll through the photos on my phone slowly. I can't help the feelings that ignite

in my stomach just by looking at a picture of

him.

I brush my thumb over his lips, thinking about kissing him. Thinking about his breath across my skin.

I keep scrolling, photo after photo blinks up at me. Me and Zaid smiling in front of the lake, him asleep on the couch after one of our movie nights.

He was extremely supportive of me taking as many pictures as I wanted during that last week he had together. He joked that it would make him more secure with the fact that I wouldn't forget him

As if I could ever forget him.

I have a lot of closeups of just him, too. His dark hair a mess, his sleepy smile soft and real. I trace his face with my fingertip and feel the ache settle low in my chest.

The video call ringtone chimes, and I swipe to answer it just as my stomach flutters with nerves. Cami's face appears on the screen, her new electric blue hair wild around her face.

I can't help but smile. "I love the new look."

She grins and flips a piece of it over her shoulder. "Thanks, babe. I've been wanting blue hair since I was like ten, thought it was

time for me to try it out."

"Well, it looks really good," I smile.

She looks me over. "I appreciate the compliment, but you look good, too. So much

more

peaceful."

guard in the best way. I press my hand lightly against my chest and nod,

feel it," I tell

head, taking a sip of

I can appreciate where I am even when I'm missing home so much it feels like I can't breathe.

grin softens into something proud.

now.

shaking slightly as she adjusts, then says "How's the painting been

talk about. "It's been hard," I admit, tucking a loose piece of hair behind my ear. "There are

a little. "We've all

I've finished, I'm proud of them. I can't wait

Seriously. Want to tell

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Chapter 253

"I want to finish it. I want it to be a surprise. I'll show

smiled, but then her voice drops a little, the way it always does when

moment, twisting my fingers together in my lap. I breathe in slowly, trying to follow the rhythm

the thoughts of guilt like

sometimes," I say honestly. "That little voice that tells me it's my fault. That they would still be here if I had just done something differently.

"It probably always will be, but that

I whisper. I pull in another slow

me, mimicking my breathing,

not

alone.

up, I acknowledge it, name it, guilt, sadness, regret, and then I remind myself: thoughts are

beams at me, so proud.

think dad and Alex would rather look down at me and see me living. Really living. Not stuck. Not punishing myself over something that could

me the space to think and speak, to sit in it for a second. "That's good, Alina. Really good. All we can do is

realizing how many times I

little mischievous. "And how's a certain