Brayden's POV

Five months had passed since that awful night. I fainted after coming out of that house. Uncle Matthews and Father Xavier found us later and admitted us in the hospital. I was unconscious for over a week, due to the loss of too much blood. After I woke up, I heard about Elif. The last thing that was engraved in my memory is her peaceful face, lying at my side and we are holding hands even when Death is infront of us. Later when I got discharged from the hospital, I heard from Uncle Matthews that the house had burned down badly. The police had already investigated all of Uncle Levent's assets and confiscated them. I decided to renovate the mansion once again, so I stayed here a little longer. Now when everything is completed, I don't have any reason to stay here anymore. 

Also, there was one more reason to wait, I had promised to save someone. So how can I leave without seeing if I was able to keep my word or not. The doctors informed that she is responding to the treatment now. It's just a matter of time when she wakes up and I leave. And now the day has come for me to say goodbye. I don't want to pull her down again and be a curse on her for the rest of the life. This is the only right decision I have taken in my whole life, I guess. She can live her life freely now, no fears, no secrets and no painful ties. Among everything that had happened, there is one good thing I learned. The past is a source of knowledge, and the future is a source of hope. Love of the past implies faith in the future. Love without hope will not survive, love without faith changes nothing. Love gives power to hope and faith. Love gave me everything, it gave me a hope but in the end, I failed to keep that love.  

"Hello Aunt." I called Aunt Davies. She had been having a rough time, since she heard about Uncle Levent's death and what bad things he had done so far. But she was felt sorry because of Uncle's deeds. "Oh Brayden, how are you doing now?" She sounded low. "Yeah I'm fine. My injuries are almost healed now, and I'm also done with the works here. So I'm coming back now. I already got the ticket. I'm coming back on tonight's flight. I'll call you back after reaching there, okay?" I was checking on the documents of the mansion for the last time. "Brayden?" "Yes Aunt. Do you need something from here? I'll stop by the mansion once later today." I really want to get out of this hotel now. It's boring here, living all alone. "Are you sure that you want to do this?" She took me aback by her question. "Yes I want this." I replied sternly. "Okay then. Do as you feel right. I just wish that you get your happiness now. I still-" She was sobbing again. "Aunt I'm happy. Okay I gotta go. So I'm going to hang up now." I remembered that I haven't collected my stuffs from the Church yet. "Oh then I won't be delaying you now. Come back home safely." She hanged up. 

Elif's POV 

I opened my eyes to the dazzling rays of sunlight coming from the window. I looked around. It seemed I have slept for too long, I guess. My head still hurts. "Elif... my child. You woke up, finally. Oh Jesus... Thank God for saving her." I heard Uncle Matthews voice but I couldn't see him clearly. I rubbed my eyes and looked again. I saw Uncle Matthews and Father Xavier standing beside my bed. "What happened? Where am I?" I asked him, confused. "You don't remember? You left for Sister Marissa's house. We called Sister Marissa but she told you didn't reach yet so I asked Brayden to look for you. Then later that night, we saw the house on fire. We ran there and found you both, lying on the ground. Then, we brought you to the hospital. Your injuries were too fatal and you lost a lot of blood. You have some internal injuries too. You were in coma for over five months." What? I was practically dead for five months? And Brayden?  "Father, where is Brayden? How is he?" I gulped. "Brayden was discharged after a week. His whole body had too many wounds. There were some minor fractures too." My eyes widened. "And what about that Spirit?" I shivered, thinking of that night. "Brayden finished him, all by himself." I was astonished. "Okay okay, enough of talking now. Now Elif you will only focus on your recovery. We can talk about this later. Okay?" I nodded to Uncle Matthews but it felt like he was hiding something.

Father took care of the hospital bills and the doctor allowed me to go home. I arrived to the Church. Uncle Matthews has been running all around and asking me what I want to eat, what I like and the list continues. I looked at myself in the mirror. I have lost some weight there, I see. I noticed that I wasn't wearing my pendant. 

I searched for the pendant everywhere but it was nowhere to be found. Did it burn down in that fire? I thought. "Uncle, did you see-" I was walking down the stairs, when I saw him. He looked tired and a little slender too. We stared at each other for a while. Does he still... hates me? If I go close to him, will he push me away?  I felt a tugging in my heart. "Oh Brayden. You're here for? Look Elif returned just now. Do you need something, Elif?" Uncle Matthews interrupted my thoughts. "Umm no... Nothing." I replied to Uncle but my eyes were still looking at Brayden's. "Uncle, I came here to get my things. I'll collect them and leave." Brayden spoke and looked away. 

I walked towards my room and crossed path with him again. He looked down and walked past me. "Brayden..." I heard him stop. "How are you?" I asked. After few seconds, he replied. "I'm good." He turned to me and smiled. "I'm in a hurry now. You should go and take rest. Don't push yourself much. Goodbye." He said and left at once. So he didn't forgive me after all. I guess, this is what I deserved. I looked at him for a while but he didn't look back again.

I was sitting in my room after that encounter. Looking outside the window, a beautiful, sunny day, everyone around me are happy but still it feels like I'm alone among everyone. I heard someone knocking at the door. "Come in." I responded, without looking. Could it be him?  I thought. "Brayd-" I turned to see it was Sister Marissa. "Oh sorry but it's just me. I saw him leaving just now." She said. I stood up. "No... I was just spacing out. Come and have a seat." I smiled at her. 

"So how are you now? When I heard about you and Brayden's condition, I felt too bad. I prayed for you too. Now, when I see you happy and fit, I feel much relieved." She gave a bright, and encouraging smile. "Yeah I returned just a few hours back. I'm good now." I was saying it to her or myself, was hard to say. "That's good then. Then, what did you you decide on doing now?" I looked at her. "What? I don't understand." I said. "Elif, will you let Brayden go just like that?" Her question surprised me. "You know about us?" I blurted out. "I heard it all." I looked at her n confusion. "When you were in the hospital, Brayden came to visit me one day." She seemed to be remembering something. "He told me everything that happened between you both." My eyes widened. "Ah don't worry. I urged him to say. He didn't want to say at first. But then he broke down and told me everything." She said. "Oh..." I don't know what to say. 

"Elif, I can understand why you said those things to him. Your heart never wanted that, did it?" I hesitated and stayed silent. "But this is what I know, but he doesn't. I know you weren't strong at that time. It's okay to be weak. But you can't continue the mistake. It will just hurt you both in the end. Just ask yourself, are you really happy now?" I shook my head and broke down into tears. "But what should I do? He hates me now. He won't even talk to me. I know I was wrong and I have my regrets. But he..." I don't have any words. Sister Marissa only made me realise how broken I was from within. "He doesn't hates you. Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope. Do you know why Brayden was able to kill that evil spirit?" I looked at her, with my teary eyes. "Because he has the courage. And that courage comes from his love for you. When he thought that you were dead, he was hurt. He fought the evil, with the power of his love. And you're telling me, he hates you? He just blames himself, that you could've died because of him. He feels guilt, not hate." Her words were giving me a hope. "Then what should I do to make him forgive me?" I asked her, wiping away my tears. 

"Love is like a bird, hold it too tightly it will die, hold it loosely it will fly, but if you're kind and allow it to rest in your heart, it will stay with you forever." She pointed to my heart. "Follow your heart, and you will be able to find the way yourself." I just couldn't tell her how relaxed I feel now, after telling her everything, which I was holding inside of me since that day. She got up to leave. "Sister." I called out. "Yes?" She turned back. "I know what I need to do." I smiled at her. "Thank you." She smiled and nodded. "Have a good day." She waved her hand and went out.

I put on a sweater and ran down the stairs. "Father, do you know where Brayden is staying at now?" I asked Father Xavier. "Brayden? He was living at one hotel near the Wellington Avenue. What was the name, wait..." Please remember fast. "Oh yes I remember now... Blue Bird Hotels. But he is leaving tonight for Florida. He told me he has a flight at !0:30 p.m." Father said. My eyes shot up. I looked at my wristwatch. It was already 08:45. "Father, I'm leaving. Please tell Uncle Matthews that I'm going for some work, okay?" I said hurriedly and started to walk. "Elif, wait." Uncle Matthews came to my side. "You can't go to him. He was the reason for your accident. Don't you realize that?" He scolded me. "Uncle, he is the reason I'm still alive." I said and smiled to him. "I won't let you go." He fought back. "Uncle, even if you try to stop me today, I'll find my way to go. I won't lose him again."

I arrived at the hotel. "Excuse me, can you tell me in which room Mr. Brayden Davies is staying?" I asked the woman at the booking counter. She checked in the computer. "Sorry Ma'am, Mr. Brayden Davies had already checked out." She answered. "What? When?" I panicked. "He left just fifteen minutes ago." She replied, after checking. "Thank you." I said and rushed out of the hotel. Wait? But to where? No, I can't lose this time.

Brayden's POV

I looked at the starry sky. This night reminds me of so many memories. I still hold them dear to me. I bowed to the graves of mom and dad. I placed the flowers on their graves. I bent down to place the flower on grandpa's grave, when I heard footsteps coming at my way. I placed the flower and turned back. "Brayden. I finally found you." There I saw that face, smiling at me. "Elif, why are you here?" I was astonished. "We promised. You forgot?" She pouted. I looked at her in disbelief. "You remembered?" She nodded and walked towards me. "Stop there. I know I have caused you too much hurt. Now, I want you to live your life as you want. So, you should go back now." My heart was beating fast. She came closer. "And where should I go? I came here to take you with me." She smiled again. "What are you smiling about ? I'm going back to Florida. You should return now. Here is nothing for you to waste your time on." I said and looked away. "And who told you that you can leave me just like that? You promised that you'll stay by my side always and protect me. So, it means you're backing off now?" She pouted. "We already broke up." I saw a hint of hurt in her eyes. "And moreover I'm not capable to protect you always. You know what happened-" She placed her hand on my chest. "You're lying to your heart." Damn why my heart is pounding inside my chest. "I'm not-" She stopped me again. "It's you who brought me out of the darkness. You saved me from my fears. I'm alive because of you. When I saw you bleeding, and lying on the stairs, I got scared. The sight of blood made me shivered. But I guess I love you more than that." She smiled and tears were rolling down her cheeks. I felt weak. Not again. Dammit. "I pushed away all my fears and wanted to save you. I felt relieved when I saw I was able to save you. I realised that time how much you mean to me." I was shocked. I just stared at her. 

"Enough. Stop lying now. I know you don't love me. You doing something so reckless just made me realize-" She flinched. "that how weak I'm as you said before. You don't have to thank me for anything. Just leave." I blurted out those words. "You're lying. You still love me. And I love you because of what you are, not because you saved me or I'm indebted to you. Brayden, I've always loved you. I lied to you that day because I was afraid that something could happen to you. I was just not brave enough that time. I regretted it later. I just didn't know how to say it. I was afraid that in anger you would say something and I won't be able to take it." She cried, looking down. "So you didn't trust me then. If anything happens again, you'll again leave me, right? What am I to you? Why are you playing with my feelings always?" I yelled at her.

"I'm sorry. Please, don't leave me. I have always loved you. Can't you give me just one more chance?" She pleaded. "Do you know how hurt I was when I said you these same things? Why should I believe you now?" I stammered. I didn't realise that I was crying too. "It's over now. Go away." Because I don't want you to give me hopes which you'll break one day and leave me, broken and hurt. I thought and walked past her. "I love you, Brayden. I love you. I will always love you, even if you say these hurtful things now." She screamed at my back. I clenched my fist and walked away. "Don't go Brayden, Please." She screamed. I stopped in my tracks and turned back. "If I don't leave now, then one day you will walk away from me. And I won't be able to take that pain. Not again." I said the hurt I was holding inside me. 

She walked to me. "Don't come anymore closer." I stammered. "Why?" She asked, looking me in the eye. The proximity between us was making me weak. My heart was racing. "Because... because then I won't be able to fight my feelings  anymore." Before I could say anymore, her lips crashed into mine. She kissed me. I let go myself and drowned myself in that kiss. I still love her.

She broke the kiss. "I won't leave you ever. I love you, Brayden." I tilted her head, holding her chin, to make her look straight into my eyes. "You promise?" I asked her. "I'm forever yours." She said and a tear rolled down her cheek. "Turn back." I said. "Why?" She questioned.  "Ahh just do it." She turned back. I took out the pendant from my pocket and put it around her neck. She turned to look at me. She looked at the pendant.  "You-" Before she could question me any further, I kissed on her forehead. She looked beautiful, wearing the pendant. "I love you, Elif." I said and felt the throbbing inside my chest. She blushed. "You don't know how to kiss properly." I wrapped my hand around her waist. "Then show me." She tilted her head and said. I smirked. And I took in her lips and kissed her again. It seems we also found our Happily- ever- after.

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