Melina can’t believe he’s here. She never expected him to show up. Why did he come? Melina pinches herself to make sure she isn’t dreaming. She won’t be surprised if she’s hallucinating right now. Melina has heard that you see the person you love the most in the world before you die.
“I’m real, principessa,” he says, placing his hand above hers. Melina feels the warmth of his hand penetrate hers, and she quickly pulls her hand away from his, as if the warmth had burnt her.
Thomas is here, oh my God, Thomas is here. He must be furious with me for fleeing. Melina looks around in fear, trying to figure out where she can flee to. Thomas is going to kill me.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to run away; I had to.” Melina says.
“I know, you don’t have to apologize, principessa.” Thomas reaches out to touch Melina, but she quickly moves away.
“I am sorry, I didn’t mean to. I needed to.” She buries her head between her legs, her body trembling in fear.
“I know amore; I know everything.” Thomas gently strokes Melina’s hair, trying to calm her down. If there’s anyone Melina fears more than James in this world, it’s Thomas. Melina believes that the torture she endured at the hands of James pales in comparison to what Thomas would inflict on her now that he has found her.
“Please lift your head, Melina,” Thomas says softly. Melina hasn’t heard him speak to her like this in months, which was the norm when they were together.
Melina slowly raises her head and looks at him. She wants to be sure she’s hearing right. Thomas’ eyes are devoid of the usual hatred Melina has grown accustomed to over the past few months. They hold something different; something Melina hasn’t seen since the day she left him. They are filled with love. How is this even possible?
“How?” Melina asks, confused.
“I’ll explain everything if you would come with me.” He puts out his hand for Melina to grasp. Melina looks between his hand and eyes. His eyes are not lying, and he isn’t forcing her to come with him. He’s asking her. Is this heaven? Am I already dead?
Melina looks at his hand for a good minute before trusting the look in his eyes; they assure her he’s sincere, and they never lie. With trembling hands, Melina takes his hand, and Thomas helps her stand up.
“I’m so happy to have you back, amore; I have so much I need to say to you.” Thomas pulls Melina into his arms and hugs her tightly. She winces as his hands graze her wounds.
“I’m so sorry, I forgot what that bastard did to you,” he says as he removes his hands from around Melina’s back and places them on her arms. His eyes are filled with remorse for causing her pain. Melina doesn’t say a word because she doesn’t even know what to say. She’s too shocked to speak.
“I promise you this, Melina,” Thomas says, looking intensely into her eyes, “I’ll find that bastard and make him pay for every single thing he did to you.” He utters every word with zeal. Melina doesn’t detect a single lie in his words.
“Let’s go home,” Thomas says, placing her hands around his neck and lifting her off the ground, her front facing his. Melina wraps her legs around his waist, and the blanket that had been placed on her falls, but someone quickly picks it up and replaces it. Melina buries her head in the crook of Thomas’ neck. His enticing scent fills her nostrils, and inhaling it soothes her soul. Melina lifts her head to ask Thomas to get Franky just before he leads them out of the room, but she doesn’t because someone is already holding her in their arms.
“Thank you,” Melina says to Leo, who is holding Franky in his arms.
Melina lowers her head and allows her eyes to close. She’s completely exhausted, not just physically but also mentally. She doesn’t even know how she’s still alive and sane after everything.
***
Melina opens her eyes and finds herself in a strange room. She has no idea how she got here. She’s on a bed, lying on her front. The last thing she recalls is falling asleep in Thomas’ arms. Melina looks around the room and tries to figure out where she is. She tries and fails to lift herself off the bed by placing her palm beside her body. Melina’s back hurt like hell when she tries to move. She moves her hand to her back and touches it gently. Melina’s hand makes contact with something that isn’t her skin. She feels a bandage on her back. Thomas must have attended to her back wound. She’s not surprised he did. Thomas had her treated after Kimberly tortured her. She’s relieved she won’t be in physical pain when Thomas begins to punish her for fleeing. Melina snaps out of her reverie when she feels parched. She looks around for a glass of water. There is, but it’s a little far away from her.
“Hello, anyone out there. Please, I need help,” Melina shouts, hoping there’s someone outside who can help her. She pauses for a moment before calling again. Melina isn’t sure how long she’s been calling for help, but she believes it’s been some time because her throat is sore. She gives up on calling for help and tries to reach for the glass of water by herself.
Making a wince with every movement she makes, she stretches her body as far as possible in her condition and reaches for the glass of water. Melina feels it at the tips of her fingers, and as she’s about to grab the cup, her hand cramps and knocks the cup off the table. The cup falls to the ground and shatters, splashing water on the floor.
“Melina, are you awake?” A familiar voice says from the door. Melina doesn’t have to look toward the door to know it’s Thomas. He walks over to her by the bed.
“Yes,” she replies, panting. The energy expended in shouting for help and reaching for the cup has drained her.
“Were you trying to get a glass of water?” Thomas asks, his gaze drawn to the spilled water and broken cup on the ground.
“Yes, please, could you help me.”
“Of course, give me a minute to get another cup,” Thomas responds before turning around and walking back out.
“Thank you,” Melina says as he walks out the door.
Melina doesn’t have to wait long before Thomas returns with a new cup, which he fills with water from the jug on the table. Melina reaches out her hand to take the cup, but Thomas doesn’t give it to her. He places her hand back on the bed and sets the cup in front of her mouth. Melina doesn’t put her mouth on the cup as expected, but instead looks at Thomas, puzzled. She can’t believe he’s assisting her. He has been acting strangely since they met, and Melina doesn’t know why. Melina understands that helping her drink water isn’t a big deal, but it’s not what she expects from him, the same person she fled from. A small part of her fears that something is wrong with him.
“Here,” he says, bringing the cup closer to her mouth. Melina opens her mouth and sips the water.
Her eyes stay locked on Thomas as he helps her hold the cup. She doesn’t take her eyes off him even as he takes the cup away from her mouth and places it back on the table once she’s done. When Thomas notices Melina staring at him, instead of asking her to take her eyes away before he plucks them out, he smiles at her. Melina blinks twice to make sure she sees his dimple. Melina recalls Thomas behaving nicely towards her when he found her, but she suspected it was a hallucination. Unfortunately, or fortunately, Melina has no idea which it is, but it was real. Thomas is genuinely behaving nicely towards her.
“Who are you?” The words leave Melina’s mouth before she can even think about holding them back.
“Huh?”
“Who are you? You’re not Thomas.” Melina shakes her head in disbelief and looks down at the man before her. Even his aura around is different. His fearsome aura is there, but she is unafraid as he stands close to her.
“It’s me, Melina.” Thomas says as he takes a seat beside her bed. He reaches for her hand and looks her in the eyes. Melina’s brows furrow as she stares into his eyes. His gaze is so soft that she thinks she’s dreaming. Is it possible that Thomas could look at me in this way again?
“This must be a dream,” Melina says as pulls her hand away from his.
“It isn’t Melina.”
“What changed?”
“I finally learned the truth.”
“Which truth?”
“The truth you have been telling me since I found you in that restaurant.”
“What!” Melina’s eyes widen like saucers, staring at Thomas in disbelief. Is he telling me he believes everything I’ve been telling him? How is that possible? Did something happen while I was gone?
The next thing that happens shocks Melina to the bones. Her breathing stops as she watches Thomas clear his throat and say the words Melina never thought she’d hear him say.
“Melina, I’m deeply sorry for everything I have done to you. I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I truly regret everything. Please find it in your heart to forgive me.”
Melina’s mouth is agape. Somebody pinch me, please.