Page 86 of Never Enough
I turn to find her usual sharp gaze softened by what seems like genuine admiration. A side hug, uncharacteristically warm, follows. I hesitate a moment before returning it, my body tensing with the unfamiliarity of the gesture.
“Thank you. That means a lot, especially coming from you.” The words fall awkwardly between us, weighted with years of criticism and thinly veiled contempt.
“I’m going to see Alex,” I add quickly, eager to escape the uneasy truce.
If she can’t handle my being with her brother, then there’s no point in spending a further second together.
Victoria beams. “I’m glad. He loves you.”
“You know?” I ask, completely surprised. Sure, she’s been more tolerable, but she hasn’t brought our relationship up.
“Yes. I gave him shit for playing into Celeste’s manipulations for far too long. I hadn’t know at the time, but once you two broke up, he was a mess. Eventually, he told me everything.”
I nod, unsure what to say.
“Daphne,” she says, brows lowered in a serious moment. “I’ve been stupid.” You can say that again. “I’m sorry for the way I treated you. For implying that you aren’t good enough. For thinking that you didn’t have actual feelings for my brother.
“It took me silently observing you two separately to truly understand. He and Celeste have broken up here and there throughout the years, and he was never so broken up about it as he was with you.
“When we had a heart-to-heart about his feelings and mental health, he expressed wanting to change and get better. For you.Andfor himself, but you were the catalyst.
“Truthfully, I never should have shit-talked you. Instead, I should have been thanking you. So I’m doing it now, Daphne. Thank you.”
“Wow.” This is the most Victoria and I have ever spoken, and it’s full ofI’m sorryandthank you.
I nod, about to accept Victoria’s apology, when movement over her shoulder snares my attention.
My breath hitches, blood freezing in my veins as recognition dawns.
There, threading through the crowd like a specter of the past, is Lynn. My mother.
“Is everything okay?” Victoria’s voice sounds distant, distorted as though underwater. The last time I saw my mother, I was.
“Wh-when I was twelve, s-she—” My voice breaks, my mind a tumultuous sea of memories. “Lynn tried to—”
“Your mother?” Victoria’s brow furrows in confusion, the warmth of her earlier sentiment evaporating into the cold air of suspicion.
I can’t finish.
I remember the water, the desperation, and the struggle to breathe. Lynn’s hands never relented, and the love in her eyes transformed into something dark and unfathomable.
It was Lynn who had torn me from Alex all those years ago. The reason I’d spent nights awake, fearing shadows and silence.
“I have to hide,” I blurt. Then, remembering how she specifically mentioned Alex and Victoria in her letter, I have a painfulrealization. “I can’t let her hurt anyone.” If she knows that Alex loves me like I love him, she’ll hurt him. To teach me a lesson.
“Hide?” Victoria asks, but I’m already moving, propelled by a fear so visceral.
If I get her away from him, maybe I can reason with her. Figure out why she’s here. I mean, everything is coming up Daphne tonight. I can only hope that Mom wants to apologize too.
Still, I’m terrified of her, and I’m terrified that she’ll harm those I love.
Every step feels like wading through treacle, every glance over my shoulder a confirmation of my worst fears.
My heart pounds into a frantic rhythm, echoing the chaos of my thoughts as I shove through the throngs of people. The warmth of the crowd does nothing to thaw the ice encasing my spine.
Around the corner, the world narrows to a desolate stretch of emptiness. With a surge of adrenaline, I break into a run. The dim light flickers above, casting long shadows that play tricks on my mind. Is it just my shadow chasing me, or—
A vise-like grip snaps around my wrist, halting my escape.