10-27-2025, 03:59 PM
Rachel was in her room reading. She had time now at least to just relax and sort of take things as they come. She hadn’t gone on a date with Elyse. Now that the initial excitement of not feeling terrified all the time had worn off, she wondered if she was ready, and had determined, after bringing it up to Elyse, that she wasn’t. Elyse had been completely supportive. They still liked each other. That was clear, but dates and more were going to wait for a bit. Still they texted all the time and spoke on the phone most days.
For the most part she was feeling okay. She had bad days though. Her trauma was still something. Even Iason’s magic hadn’t healed that part. She found herself sometimes staring into nothing and would get this feeling of pain in her chest. Sometimes she’d start to cry and not know why. She still sometimes had withdrawals. Mostly her hands would shake then, but she felt the need for his touch then too.
Her wallet buzzed and Rachel picked up. She read Cruz’s message. She typed a response, but deleted it before sending. Then another, and another. Rachel wasn’t sure. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to see him or want to talk. She felt embarrassed by how she’d ended things. She understood Cruz now a little better. She had no idea how much she knew and was also worried he might blame himself. It wasn’t his fault at all.
But she cared about Cruz too. She had a feeling that he was being genuine here. Even if they weren’t together - she wanted to be his friend. That won out.
”I’d like that. Someplace quiet - not too stimulating would be best. Bottom of the Cup Cafe in a half hour?”
For the most part she was feeling okay. She had bad days though. Her trauma was still something. Even Iason’s magic hadn’t healed that part. She found herself sometimes staring into nothing and would get this feeling of pain in her chest. Sometimes she’d start to cry and not know why. She still sometimes had withdrawals. Mostly her hands would shake then, but she felt the need for his touch then too.
Her wallet buzzed and Rachel picked up. She read Cruz’s message. She typed a response, but deleted it before sending. Then another, and another. Rachel wasn’t sure. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to see him or want to talk. She felt embarrassed by how she’d ended things. She understood Cruz now a little better. She had no idea how much she knew and was also worried he might blame himself. It wasn’t his fault at all.
But she cared about Cruz too. She had a feeling that he was being genuine here. Even if they weren’t together - she wanted to be his friend. That won out.
”I’d like that. Someplace quiet - not too stimulating would be best. Bottom of the Cup Cafe in a half hour?”