It seemed that she knew her injured feet were ugly, so she curled up her legs and tried to hide them under the blanket.
Winifred Dawson used to be so beautiful.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say she was like a princess in an ivory tower, born to enjoy the best of everything. She had the temperament and the ailments of a princess, spoiled and with a not-so-good temper.
Wherever she went, she held her chin up, exuding confidence and arrogance from head to toe. Standing under the sunlight, she seemed more radiant than the sun itself, attracting attention from all around.
On her 18th birthday, she wore a blue fishtail gown and stood at the bow of a ship. With the moon hanging above her head, the undulating scene merged with the night sky, dotted with stars. The night breeze tousled her long hair as she lazily turned around, resembling a mermaid princess who had just come ashore.
Winifred Dawson had beautiful hands and feet. Her fingers were slender, and her toes were delicate and white. She had Greek feet, the legendary feet of a beauty, which made her limbs appear longer.
When Winifred Dawson washed her feet, her toes would turn pink. She loved beauty and would sometimes apply light pink nail polish. When she wore high heels sandals, she looked exquisite from head to toe.
Just a pair of feet could attract people’s attention.
But now, those feet were no longer pink. There were calluses on the soles, and half of her right big toe was missing.
Her face was also marred by a winding scar that couldn’t be completely erased even with cosmetic surgery.
Even if those wounds were healed, could Winifred Dawson truly regain her former confident and arrogant self?
Winifred Dawson cried so hard that she couldn’t catch her breath. She cried for so long that her brain lacked oxygen, leaving her in a daze. She didn’t know when Garrison Reeves had embraced her in his arms.
When her consciousness gradually returned, she didn’t flinch. The man was close to her, and his scent inexplicably made her feel safe and warm.
… It had been a long time since someone held her like this.
In this embrace, she felt like she could sleep peacefully and have sweet dreams.
Who was this man?
Why did he feel familiar?
Why did she feel safe by his side?
And why was he so kind to her?
He gave her hot meals to eat, delicious food to savor. He gently wiped her face and whispered soothing words to her. He held her close, and she leaned against his chest, listening to the rhythm of his heartbeat. For the first time, she felt that she had someone to rely on.
“It hurts… I’m in pain…”
This was the first time Winifred Dawson spoke. Perhaps it had been too long since she last spoke; her voice sounded hoarse. If one didn’t listen carefully, they wouldn’t be able to understand what she was saying.
“Where does it hurt?”
Winifred Dawson shook her head; she couldn’t pinpoint where it hurt. It felt like every part of her body was in pain, as if she had been immersed in a pool of sulfuric acid, even the roots of her hair hurt terribly.
She cried tears of pain while wanting to hold herself and also wanting to be held by the person in front of her. It felt like as long as they hugged each other, the pain would dissipate like cold being driven away.
“I’m so hungry…”
How could she be hungry? She had just finished eating and even burped after being full.
If someone frequently felt hungry, it meant either there was something wrong with their body or they often experienced hunger or loneliness. They used food to fill the emptiness in their hearts.
Garrison Reeves didn’t speak; he felt that no words could compare to this tight embrace.
Winifred Dawson sobbed uncontrollably until her eyes became swollen and tears continued to flow, wetting Garrison Reeves’ chest.
When she grew tired from crying, Winifred Dawson lay motionless in Garrison Reeves’ arms. He gently released his hold on her; the tissue in his hand crumpled into a ball from being tightly clenched.
His fingertips gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and followed the scar down to her chin.
The whole action was natural and gentle. Looking into Winifred Dawson’s eyes, he only felt heartache without any other emotions. He still cherished her just like before; it was as if that scar didn’t exist at all.
He placed Winifred Dawson on the bed and made a slight movement that startled her awake. Winifred Dawson reached out and tightly grasped his sleeve.
Having finally found warmth as a “hedgehog,” she didn’t want to let go anymore. She removed all the thorns on herself just to be held tightly in someone’s arms.
Can a hedgehog without thorns still be called a hedgehog? Covered in wounds, sharp thorns turned into bloody holes-she became insecure and timid, afraid of being looked down upon by the person in front of her or being abandoned.
In such a state… a hedgehog without thorns couldn’t even protect itself anymore; not only would it be cold but also painful.
“I won’t leave; I’ll stay here with you. I’ll be by your side even when you’re asleep.”
For so many days, Garrison Reeves slowly approached Winifred Dawson step by step until she willingly leaned on him for support.
He took 99 steps while Winifred Dawson took one step. Although it seemed like just one step, it took all of Winifred Dawson’s strength; taking one step back would mean falling off a cliff.
At this moment, she felt as if she were standing on a precipice-her body swaying in the wind-ravaged and helpless in solitude.
“Who are you?” Winifred Dawson asked.
Garrison Reeves felt a pang in his heart. Although he knew that Winifred Dawson had lost her memory and forgotten about him long ago, when she asked for his name as if he were a stranger again, his heart still clenched with pain-as if there were hedgehogs wildly thrashing inside him.
Garrison Reeves steadied himself and answered her question with a calm voice devoid of fluctuations: “I am Garrison Reeves.”
“Garrison Reeves?”
“Does it sound familiar?”
Winifred Dawson shook her head; obviously, she didn’t recognize him or have any impression of that name.
Garrison Reeves- “Garrison” in his name meant support-to withstand pressure, carry burdens, and be able to take on responsibilities. It showed how high his parents’ expectations were when they named him.
The greater the expectations placed upon him, the greater the pressure he endured. Under that pressure, Garrison Reeves supported the Reeves family. Now that he had found Winifred Dawson again, he hoped that he could also support her-to become someone she could rely on. From now on, she would be his responsibility.
“Then… who am I?”
“Your name is Winifred Dawson.”
Winifred Dawson nodded without asking any further questions. Her voice was too hoarse; speaking just a few words caused pain. Her face turned deathly pale as she lay sickly on the bed.
She wanted to eat lots of hot meals, drink sweet water in big gulps-to have a peaceful sleep…
These things were so beautiful but easily destroyed. Therefore, she dared not think too much for fear of being seen as greedy by others who might reject her for it.
Forget it; even if she couldn’t eat enough hot meals or drink sugary drinks anymore-even if she had nightmares every day and night-as long as there was someone who could hold her tightly… once a day would suffice; more than that would annoy others.
But not just anyone could do it-Garrison Reeves could because he was the first person she remembered from before-the only person who treated her kindly now-the person whom she could trust and depend on.
She was very sleepy but didn’t want to close her eyes for fear that when she opened them again, the person in front of her would disappear.
She even feared blinking; thus, her eyes blinked rapidly.