*I love you.
It’s been a long time since he heard those words from anybody’s mouth. Maggie loved him. Why then did he leave her so angrily? Why was he even so mad at her? Was he mad that she’d denied him the chance of knowing the truth for so long, or was he just mad at himself for thinking he might hurt her later? That he didn’t deserve her, the same way she’d thought she wasn’t worthy of being with him?
He spent the rest of the day at his bedroom window, cancelling all of his activities as he’d missed the morning rounds. He needed time and space to think clearly, as his mind is going through a whole lot right now.
So much time passed that Walden didn’t even know how long he spent in his thoughts. It was already nighttime and he is still by his window. He then felt a loud growl in his stomach, remembering that he hasn’t had anything to eat throughout the day, but he didn’t let that bother him, as food is the least of his problems now.
He doesn’t know if the ghost will come or not, but he sure isn’t going to remain here to find out. Now that he’s had some time to think clearly, he realizes that he made a mistake leaving her like that. Yes, she did wrong by keeping the truth from him, but now only one thing mattered, and that’s being right by her side. He’d missed his peaceful nights, and if being with her, no matter how mad he was at her, if being meant that he would have those nights back, then what was he doing here standing by his window side?
He needs to be with her now, he needs to hold her, touch her, kiss her and tell her the same thing she told him before she left. He loves her, he’s loved her since the first day he saw her, and last night made him realize all of that. It also made him realize how much of an empty man he is without her. Maggie is his purpose like she said, his destined, his happiness. Without her, he had nothing.
“Let’s go,” he told his wolf before shifting to his other state. “Let’s go and get our girl.”
**********
“Good night, mommy.”
Good night my love,” Maggie replied to her daughter as she turned off the bedroom light after tucking her in. The day remained gloomy for her after Walden left. She’d gone to pick up Emily from the nursery before giving her something to eat. She didn’t have anything for herself as she was not in the mood. Her main concern was remaining calm and steady in front of Emily, careful not to suddenly burst out and let out her true emotions for her daughter to see. It was far from easy and she’d thought she’d succeeded until now.
“Mommy?”
“Yes, darling?”
“Why are you sad?”
“Sad?” Maggie huffed. “Oh, no dear. Mommy isn’t sad at all.”
“Then why were you crying? I heard you crying from the bathroom.”
“You did?”
“Yes mommy, and now that you said you’re not sad, does it mean you’re happy?”
Maggie tried to make sense of what her daughter was saying, before remembering their last conversation about happy people crying.
“Oh, yes, darling. Mommy is happy. Mommy is very happy, that’s why she was crying.”
Emily’s eyes shone. “Why is mommy very happy today?”
All these questions, Maggie is running out of what to say.
“Um… You know what, honey. How about you go to bed now, and tomorrow morning, if you promise to be a good girl, then mommy will tell you why she was happy.”
“Okay, mommy. I can’t wait to be a good girl so mommy will tell me why she is happy!” Emily pouted happily.
“Okay. Go to sleep now, my darling.” Maggie then gave her a final kiss before leaving the room quietly. Thankful that she’d been spared of all those questions she didn’t know how to answer. She’d been spared for a while, at least.
She made sure to return to her room, and then shut the door, before retrieving a box of tissues she’d hidden under her bed, and then she burst out again, pouring out her tears into the tissue paper she was holding in her hand. It was hard to control herself, hard to relive the memory of Walden shutting the door in her face, right after she’d confessed her true feelings for him. It was so hard.
She was tired, but sleep didn’t come to her as she remained on her bed, sniffing. Longing for something she knew she couldn’t have anymore, and it’s all because of a mistake she made.
Knock-knock-knock!
The gentle knock on her front door startled her, she already knew who it was, her heart told her, but why is he back here? She didn’t wait for the answer as she dashed out of her room as fast as she could, heading through the corridor and to the living room to open up for him.
As the door opened, he met her standing in front of him. She didn’t look good at all, she was holding a tissue paper in her hand, and her eyes, were soaked. She’d been crying for a long time, and it was all because of what he did. He felt so much guilt then.
“Maggie, I…”
“Walden, I…”
They both rushed to speak at the same time. He then remained silent. Allowing her to speak first.
“Walden, I am sorry. I don’t know what it will take for you to forgive me, but I’m willing to do it. I’m sorry for keeping the truth…”
He didn’t let her finish before crashing his mouth into hers, shutting in the last set of words she was about to say. He didn’t let her apologize because he’s forgiven her long since. He’d only come here to give an apology of his own, for how he’d acted, but with the way things were going, none of them seemed to want the talk to go on longer than it should.