I run from his room but I don’t stop at mine. There’s no way I am going to let him push me out, touch me the way he did, and then act cold towards me.
I know it’s naïve but I have to see my father again. I have to know that he’s ok.
I run right out the front door and I don’t stop running. After an hour, I make it to my father’s house. The little cottage is a reminder of all the times we went hungry but it’s also a reminder of the love I had there. In Gabriel’s mansion, I have all my basic needs met and yet, there’s no love in that house.
I burst inside. My father is in the kitchen… making food. He startles when he sees me.
“Aurora?”
“Are you ok?” I ask as my tears hit me. I run into his arms and he holds me tight. “Is that food?”
“Gabriel kept his promise. Food has been delivered here for the past two days now.”
I’m not sure how to feel about Gabriel sticking to his word. “I’m glad you’re eating. You need to keep your strength up.”
“I do. I planned on coming for you. To save you. What are you doing here?”
“I had to see you. I had to know you were all right.”
He cups my face and smiles down at me but there’s no joy in his eyes. “I am… fine. I am not hungry anymore. But I worry for you every day.”
“I know coming here puts you at risk. But I had to see you. I needed to know I was still loved.”
“Of course you’re loved. You’re always loved by me.”
The front door bangs open and Gabriel storms inside. “What did I say, Aurora? You are to never see your father again. I kept my promise. You should have kept yours.”
He pulls out his gun and aims it at my father’s head.
I run and stand right before the barrel. Deja-vu hits me. Will Gabriel and I be forced to repeat this same song and dance over and over again?
“Don’t kill him. You want to own me? You’ll never be able to own me if you kill him. I will never come to you willingly if you kill him.”
“You have to stop running back to your father or I will start to lock you up in your room.”
“I had to know he was ok.”
“He’s ok,” Gabriel spits out. “I’ve been giving him food like I said I would. Your father is fine. It’s more than he deserves.”
“You have a family. Or had. I’m not sure which.”
Gabriel flinches. “Don’t talk about my family.”
“The point I’m making is that my father is my family. I love him more than life itself. Don’t you feel that way for your family? Wouldn’t you do anything to protect them? To make sure they were ok?”
His hand wavers on his gun. “Aurora…”
“Wouldn’t you?” I challenge. “You hide that photo away. I don’t know why. But it’s clear it causes you some sort of emotion. You have to understand how I feel about my dad. I know he stole from you but it was just to help me live. So I could eat. Leave my dad alone. Please. I’ll stop coming to see him. Or…”
“Or?”
“Or you can let me see him.”
Gabriel scoffs. “Why would I do that?”
“If you let me see him, just so I can know if he’s all right or not, I’ll always return to you. I won’t run. You can still be in control. Just… give me more freedom. If you truly want me to be yours, then you’ll grant me that.”
“You are my wife. You are mine to do with as I please.”
