━━━━━━━━┈❋┈━━━━━━━━━

❝ It's killing me, once again
Your traces remain
And they torture me.❞

•••

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
"Seeing is believing."

➳➳➳

I WOKE IN AN absolute daze, my body covered in sweat as I pushed the sheets off me. My gaze wandered across the room as my eyes adjusted to the dark, Ezra was fast asleep beside me his arm was dangled around my waist, pushing it further away from myself, I sat up straight taking deep shaky breaths, I reached for my phone on the night stand. My eyes widened it was 4am in the morning there were still hours left till I have to go for the that interview.

Knowing I could not just back to sleep I got out off the bed, putting on my sports bra and jogging shorts I tied my hair into a tight, high ponytail.

It was pitch black outside, as I turned the stove on putting the kettle, I poured water and waited for it to boil, within few hours Ezra would wake up and he would definitely want some coffee

My body felt cold, as I stood in the dark leaning against the refrigerator. Glancing upwards at the wall clock I watched it making its turn, ticking endlessly. A different sort of longing fell over, like something or someone was waiting for me and I hated this feeling even after a year I still dwell upon him thoughts of him haunts my nights unable me to do anything other than just wait cause one day he would find me and all of this would be torn apart everything would end.

Without further thinking I put on my Bluetooth headset with the music blasting in my ears, I jogged in front of street of our house, walking all the way to the main street that was just as empty.

After few jogs I stopped with fog and mist in the air I expressed a sigh bending over my knees I exhaled sharply, my clothes drenched with perspiration as I wiped my face with the back of my hand.

Just then my eyes caught with our neighbor Hannah jogging towards me with her bulldog, yelping enthusiastically behind her a smile formed over my lips as I crouch down when the dog ran towards me.

"What are you doing here this early?" she asked as I chuckled a little when her dog started licking my hand.

"Nothing-I just could not just fall back asleep."

I murmured silently standing up as she nodded sympathetically.

With nothing left more to say the two of us jogged together until I stopped in the middle, turning I glanced over my shoulder my eyes wide with my heart racing rapidly, Hannah who just seemed to notice as well stopped and turned around.

"What's wrong?" her voice sounding worried as she placed her hand on top my shoulder, I shivered my eyes snapped towards her face as I stared at the sky blankly.

"Nothing-I just don't feel good I am going back inside." I spoke with my eyes now foucsed on the black car in the distant, I didn't know why was I even panicking it was just a black car but for some reason it felt known to me like I've seen this before not once but many times.

"Yeah sure but do you want me to walk you to your door?" Hannah's eyes glistened as I shook my head slightly patting my shoulder she lets me walk past her.

Almost reaching towards our building, I flinched when the thunder roared hard against the grey dark sky, my eyes glanced upwards as holding my breath, I watch a the first few drops of rain fell against my hand little by little.

I felt my heart threaten to combust. When memories of my old life rushed in front my eyes, the lonely days, the quiet nights but so many secrets I've kept with me for so long, the lustful eyes, the wounded knees, the silent tears the shout for help I sensed it all running through me once again, And now I had to feel the hurt knowing what I had done.

I was always and always will be a fifteen years old girl running away from her own life, it was then it is now I'm still running.

"Paris, what are you doing get inside or you'll catch cold."

My eyes flickered as with a shuddering breath and soaked skin I turned to find Ezra standing by the porch of our house.

Chewing my bottom lip nervously, I glanced over at him; shirtless with his hair messy, I caught the sight of the lit cigarette in his hand while he extended his other hand and pulled me close to him as I reached our porch.

His lips twisted up in amusement as he hugged my soaked body, resting his chin on top my head, as I felt my body slowly relaxed and a sigh escaped my lips.

"What's bothering you, Paris?" he enquired the sounded of his voice soothed my ears, as started to realise the black car was still there and it has moved and was now in front of our house, right in front.

My hands around his waist tightened as I gripped his waist closing my eyes tightly I tried to calm my heart down a little but it wasn't helping.

Lowering his head, he cupped my face in his hands. Pulling me away he rested his forehead to mine, as I heaved for air to stabilise myself.

Looking directly into my eyes he spoke,"It alright, love you have me. You have me." he kept murmuring again as I listened nodding swiftly as putting his arms me he pulled me up into his arms.

"You look so pale," his warm breath fanning across my face as he spoke.

My eyes widened as I stared into his eyes, my legs flying in the air as I pulled him closer my breathing calming down a little as we entered the familiar premises of our home.

Setting me down on the couch he turned and left, as I sat still staring down at my shivering hands that have seemed to have lost their colour.

"Ezra," I gasped as he returned back with a towel in his hand. He didn't say anything just silently wiped the dampness off my body with the towel his eyes focused at my face as his hand held my face.

"I would not let anything happen to you again, Paris. I know there's something or someone out there but believe me I would never let anything come in between us."

Everything within the moment stilled as I very carefully placed my hand against his bicep smiling faintly,"I believe in you, Ezra."

A faint smile that crept at the corners of his lips, had my heart flutter feeling him lean in a little. His lip brushing against my cold skin as he murmured underneath his breath,"Easy."

"Why are you up?" I asked after some time, my face against his chest as I listened to his beating heart.

"You forget to take the kettle off the stove, I smelt something burning and figured-" he sighed as feeling guilty I gently kissed his hand and pulled back.

"I don't know why this keep happening to me," I whispered softly with our hands entwined together.

"Just don't dwell upon it. It is better that way but you have an interview today and I don't want you to miss it get in the shower and get dressed while I'll fix you some breakfast," he spoke as standing up he pulled me up to my feet.

"Fine sir I will," I chuckled as I turned towards our bedroom.

The room was hot and damp from the rain. I could hear the distant drum of the rain against our old plantation shutters. Why was the window open?

Slowly making my way towards window I peeked through the shutters, my heart pumps even faster at mind boggling speed, as my hand grow cold and clammy, as hastily I open my eyes to find the car gone.

A sigh of relief escaped my mouth as I fell against the cold floor, holding my head between my hands; I breathed softly closing my eyes.

After all it was just my illusion the car was not for me, I was fine he haven't found me yet, at least I hoped he never would.

TO BE CONTINUED

Author's note:

I know you guys miss Tae but patience is what I ask of you all. Just believe in me this story is about to take a drastic turn and I'm just little by little preparing you all for it.

Something happened two
days ago and I literally could not believe that this would happen so, so soon I'm surprised and lost for words. Daddy Issues reached 100k like hundred that's a lot and I wasn't expecting this with just 25 chapters I mean this is insane I wanted to thank everyone for reading my book and appreciating my work it really means a lot for me.

I just hope you guys would always love my book and I would always try my best to be better and update more often.

Who else wants a boyfriend like Ezra?

Stay precious, and
remember to smile ♥

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Thanks for reading<3

Love,
shafaq-Shapel♥