The Girl He Craves

Meredith’s pov

He hauled in a shaky breath, his eyes swimming with sadness. I had hit him with the

past, something that could potentially bring out the man he once was.

’She’s dead.” He whispered, pushing the photo away. “The dead can’t speak.'”

I blinked in sadness, pitying the man he is now today. “But they can still see and hear.

If mom was here, she’d smack you upside your head and then nurse your wounds.”

He clenched his fists, turning away from me completely.” Is this why you came here?

To remind me of why I’m actually doing what I’m doing? Look at me, Meredith.” His

eyes snapped up to mine suddenly and I had to take in a very sharp inhale as

emotions swam through the windows of his soul.

Father was in more pain than I realized.

’I’m a shell of a man because of her. I can love no other, I have a permanent hole in

my heart because of her. Love is selfish Meredith, the pain is unbearable. I tried to

save you from it too,” He looked over my shoulder at Grant.

He continued. “But I was too late. I need to save my grandson before it’s too late.”

I shook my head, reaching out for him. My heart ached for my father. A man who once

believed love was the answer to everything now made love his enemy. It was painful

and tormenting to watch him become this person.

When my fingers touched his hand, he flinched. His eyes swept to mine in shock. I

don’t remember the last time I held my father’s hand or the last time I voluntarily stood

this close to him.

After mom died, our father-daughter relationship was swept up and tom into shreds.

He would come home late from work, smell of booze, and trash the entire place.

I can recall listening to a few bottles shattering on the wall. I can even remember the

of that broken glass piercing through my

rampage.

I cried out in

to help me.

day too.

he had me stay up alone in my room, crying my

that

that

mother.

coldly, like we

did what he asked

I met Grant and

wrong dad,’ I

in a while too. Always

he heard my words. There’s a flicker in

that reminded me of the past and the way he looked at me before

beautiful. It’s worth it. Those years you

regret meeting her? Sharing life with

life with her?’

adam’s apple bob as he swallowed and croaked out.

to your mother Meredith.’

pain deep within

back I’d do it

again. ■

My heart squeezed. I could hear the raw

that you’re trying to hurt her

a son, a woman who he loves dearly. You’re trying to tear his family apart. Why

a good idea? Why do

you see I’m trying to help him Meredith?

choose her all over again, but the pain of losing

unbearable. Love is

go of his hand, growing angry now that

thinking. “Love is beautiful. Every bit of

hurting Aiden because of what

fell in love with Grant, my father had tried his best to change

and I

way, he thinks that I had abandoned

that it was his actions that

wife and then he lost his

loneliness and how a dead mind and

any action they

vision as I cracked. ‘I’m sorry for leaving you the way I did.