Chapter 18: Chapter 18: The Journey Down Memory Lane

I hate him--I hate all of them…

They… they killed Mama and Papa. They killed Arthur… and Greg. And… and--Anne!

I swear, I’ll never forgive them.

Must I lose my only friend to the darkness we’ve worked so hard to fight?

Valentine remembered the day they killed the Elite. Their plan had worked perfectly. The other victims of the Elite’s cruelty profusely thanked him. All he had said back was, “You’re welcome.” But inwardly, he had said:

The Royal Army led by Tara came and took all the others home. Valentine and Daniel-Kane had been told by her that they were invited to become Masterminds in Kalt, due to their success of vanquishing the Elite.

But he never forgot the feeling he had, staring at the mound of ashes and bodies.

Satisfaction was the best thing he had felt in a long time. Unfortunately, a sinking, hopeless, and sad feeling stuck around too. Even after all this time, Valentine still missed his family.

Now, as he looked into Gemini’s eyes he knew what he wanted was within reach.

Something inside him was urging him to take this. To take the happiness in front of him.

Valentine roughly pulled her into his arms, one hand on her back and the other cradling her head. Gemini threw her arms around his waist. Her felt her quietly sob against him just as he realized how blurry his vision was. Then he felt it.

A tear.

Two tears.

Another squeezed out.

And once he started… he couldn’t seem to stop. His breathing grew heavy and his throat close up.

Gemini pushed back from him, enough to look at him. Valentine turned his head away, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand.

“No, don’t do that,” She whispered, her voice cracking. “There’s no shame in sadness.”

He blinked, causing another tear to fall. He shut his eyes. Sobs rose to his throat but he swallowed them. Gemini put her arms around his neck, hugging him. He wrapped both arms around her again.

All he could think of… was when he watched his family die. The weight of not thinking much of it for over twenty years crash down on him.

“Please… “ He own voice almost foreign to him. “Distract me.”

“Valentine… don’t push it away forever,” Gemini said, softly shaking her head. “The only way you’ll move on is to feel the sadness, grieve, and then move forward.”

She gasped again, he realized he was gripping her too tightly. He quickly loosened his arms.

“I can’t… think…”

“Then talk to me about it.” Gemini looked at him intently. This gave him more tears.

“They were all so happy…

were all so happy. They… the Elite… I had to watch…” Valentine choked out.

“Shhh, it’s okay. Don’t say anything you’re not ready to say--”

“No. It’s been more than twenty years. I’m saying it.” He wiped away the tears on his face, mentally preparing himself. “I… I love my family. I always will,” He whispered.

“I know. Me too.” Gemini blinked rapidly and Valentine realized she had been crying too.

“I think--I think we got a little distracted.”

“What?” She sniffed.

“Remember? You wanted me to let you love me?”

“Oh… ” A slow, bright blush crept up her neck and all the way to her ears. She moved away, as if just now realizing that he had been holding her.

“See your whole head gets red when you’re embarrassed.” Valentine smiled, wryly.

“And… you’re changing the subject quickly.”

“We got distracted, Gemini. And I… I’ve had enough tears for one day.” He shifted himself so he could sit comfortably on the floor. “Did you mean what you said earlier?”

“Yes.” She hesitated. “Did you?”

Valentine flicked his eyes downward.

“Wasn’t it obvious?”

Gemini’s eyes widened.

“No… it-it wasn’t.”