SWNOVELS Chapter Willow Leaves
~ 2 years later
Willow
“He was flirting with you.”
Willow felt her lips twitch as she shook her head. “Not every guy is flirting with me when I order an ice cream.” The narrowed eyes of her partner watched the ice cream guy in distrust. “He touched your hand.” “I paid with cash, he was handing me change.” A huff came from her partner as they eyed the cart in distaste. “I’m complaining.” Willow giggled softly. “Complaining? That he was nice?” “Yes.” She snorted, her partner could be ridiculous at times but she loved them for it.
They sat down at a bench and she leaned against her partner while watching the people around them. Her fingers began to fiddle with the bracelet attached to her wrist as she thought about her first day here, the way she nervously walked around town trying to learn where everything was. How she ran into her partner while they were shopping for food, she had been so nervous about the whole thing while they had laughed and picked up their items. “If you wanted to talk to me you could’ve just said hi.”
She felt a smile appear on her face remembering it, looking up into the questioning face of her partner. “What are you thinking about?” Willow shrugged “Nothing.” They leaned forward and pressed a kiss on her cheek. “You’re lying.” Their teasing tone clear “What’s going on in that head of yours?” Willow hesitated and looked at a pair of lovebirds across the way. “Why did you choose me?” The question wasn’t what she wanted to ask, she wanted to avoid the subject much like she has done the past two years. She avoided everything to do with the past. And asking this was like falling back into her insecurities.
“This is about them isn’t it?” The silence was enough for the confirmation and she heard a sigh. “Willow, they were assholes. They didn’t deserve you.” Willow shook her head and held onto the cup within her fingers. “Why wasn’t I strong enough for them?” She stopped a moment. “I’m sorry, its a nice day out and we shouldn’t-” “No. We need to talk about this, you’ve avoided it for 2 years.”
Her partner shifted so that their back as pressed against the bar of the bench. They took her hand and placed another hand under her chin to force her to stare into those eyes. “Listen to me, you were strong enough. That idiot? He wanted someone to fit his standards the moment he met them, he wanted someone who could instantaneously become what he wanted. What he wanted was someone who could be what he needed them to be. You, Willow, were perfect. You didn’t fit what he thought you should and he tossed you, and then he had the balls to come back and try and take you back to fulfill his needs. They were using you to better their life when they needed it.”
They gently brushed her hair behind her ears and looked at her with such care it made her heart bleed. “Willow, you were amazing as you were. You deserved so much more then what they gave you. You are loyal, soft-spoken, but also aren’t afraid to stand up when you need to. They didn’t deserve someone like you, someone who enjoys the rain, someone who enjoys the quiet side of things, someone who’s funny and sarcastic but also sympathetic. You are strong because you are you. You are enough for me. I chose you because you balance me in a way no one else could. I choose you Willow, every day that I stay is a day I choose you. And I hope to be with you all of our days.”
They pressed their lips against hers and she felt like she was running through the forest again, her adrenaline racing. The smell of rain filling her senses as tingles spread, heat filled her heart and her mind. She understood now, the feelings she had towards Drayn weren’t her own like the goddess had said, they were remnants of the mate bond clinging desperately onto someone who didn’t want her because of who she was.
But the person in front of her,
The person holding her tightly as if she would melt away.
The person kissing her that seemed to take her to another plane of bliss,
Accepted her for her.
And that’s all she could have asked for.
~
Changing yourself is a dangerous path,
Are you changing to become better?
Or are you changing to constantly please those who will never be satisfied?
~
Hi everyone!
I kept the partner gender, and physical stature unknown, the whole point of this ending was to give you a chance to choose who Willow ends up with and now you can! You can imagine them looking any way you want them to. This not only gives ya’ll so much more to enjoy but also leaves room for any *ahem* sequels that may happen and gives me room to wiggle should I want the partner to be different look wise.