ZOLA'S P.O.V
After the wolf's eyes retreated into the darkness, I couldn't fall back asleep. There was something in those deep blues that shook me to my core. But was I scared? The simple answer was, no. Which left a complicated question following that simple answer: why not? That feeling that I felt at the first motel still lingered in the depths of my anxious heart. However, scared was less of a description. All I felt now was confused and a little intrigued. What changed?
I didn't get a good look at the man from the motel. But somehow I knew the wolf I saw belonged to him. I didn't feel in danger. But I should, considering he tracked me down after I left. I didn't know him, so why would he follow me?
I suppose it didn't matter, I was leaving as soon as I could catch a flight to Germany. But for some odd reason, I had mixed feelings about leaving now. Which made a more pressing question keep replaying in my head. Should I stay or should I go?
A soft tap on the door caught my attention moments before the familiar soft feminine voice spoke.
"Are you awake, dear? It's Narissa, I have your breakfast."
I looked over at the clock. Somehow it was already nearing 7:40 in the morning. Time must've slipped away. I was still beyond exhausted and wanted nothing more than to dive back into a deep sleep again. But I also knew I couldn't just lie around. I'd hate to be tracked down before having the chance to skip the country. Knowing Elias, he would eventually hire a smart enough person to track my car's plates through cameras on the traffic lights. Which was why I tried to take the longer route out of state. I wanted to stay partially off the grid.
"Breakfast in bed?" I asked when I opened the door.
"Well, you slept so long, I just figured you were starved."
I wish that I slept the 12 hours she is referring to. But that wasn't in my cards.
"I actually woke up earlier than I wanted."
"You were shooting for three days of sleep? I must've underestimated what you've been through."
I stood in the doorway confused. I turned to look back at the clock. 7:47.
"Darling is Tuesday morning. You got here on Sunday evening."
Tuesday? What happened to Monday?
"If I slept that long, then why do I still feel so tired?"
"Sometimes when we oversleep, we tend to wake up more exhausted."
"If it's Tuesday, then that means that I missed my flight."
"Oh, dear. If I'd known, I would have woken you. The only reason I decided to wake you today was because nobody needs to go that long without a proper meal."
I guess the pressing question of should I stay or should I go was answered. Call it fate, or even call it stupidity. Either way, it was a sign. At that moment, the smell of the food wafted into my nostrils and made my stomach growl. The memory of when I arrived crossed my mind momentarily.
"Have you eaten yet?" I asked her curiously.
"I have not."
"If you don't mind, can I eat with you?"
Since I have been here longer than anticipated, I decided I'd make the most of it. I was curious about her past. This was my opportunity to get to know her. If she wanted me to, of course. I know a stranger inquiring about a personal matter was strange, but something about her drew me in. The need to know her was strong. Another strange thing that I can't understand.
"Of course. Meet me in the diner downstairs."
"There's a diner?"
"Sure is. It slipped my mind that you didn't get a tour around the hotel. How about you getting dressed and meeting me in the lobby? We will go have breakfast together. And then once we are done, I'll give you the grand tour, yeah?"
I smiled and nodded in agreement. She exchanged a smile in return then walked away, leaving me standing in the doorway to my room. I was still processing the fact that I had slept for 34 hours. I mean yes, I was up from Saturday around 9 in the morning until I arrived here on Sunday, close to 7pm. I guess my brain thought that since I robbed 34 hours of sleep from myself, then I must give back the 34 hours.
I shut the door and headed to the bathroom. I needed a shower. There was no way that I would leave this room smelling the way that I do. Once I was done, I quickly threw on some clothes and made my way down to the lobby.
"I figured you wanted a shower first. I know if I were you, I would."
"Sorry, I should've said that before you left."
"No need to apologize. Are you ready?"
She then led me down the hall. When we neared what I presumed was the diner, the smell of food surrounded us. I could feel my mouth involuntarily salivating right before the roar of my stomach began to protest for food. This time, much louder.
"I already placed our order. I hope you don't mind me picking your food."
"No worries, I'm hardly picky," I admitted.
We sat at the table across from one another. I took the moment to take in her features. She was old, but her eyes made her appear younger.
"So, where are you heading?"
I wanted to lie, because why would I leave a bread crumb? But I couldn't. Well, not so much of couldn't, more like wouldn't. I didn't want to.
"Germany."
"Such a beautiful place. But if you don't mind me asking, why are you in Montana when you're from Colorado?"
The surprised look on my face must've been present because she quickly spoke again.
"You provided a drivers license to rent a room. It was a Colorado license."
"Right. Um. My idea was to go the other way so that they didn't know I was actually heading the opposite direction."
"I suppose that's one way to do it."
"It was a last-minute plan."
"Well, at least you had one. When I left, I didn't."
I wasn't sure how to ask her the question. But I presume she already knew that.
"I was in an abusive marriage. It took me years to get away. The only thing that kept me going was my son."
"That must've been hard on you."
"I always thought that if I took all of the beating that he would be okay. But I was wrong. So so wrong. I realized that, when he started acting out in school. He would bully little girls. Doing to them what his daddy was doing to me. I was allowing him to create a monster by staying. I couldn't let my son become his father. So I got some of our stuff and we left. I had no money. No family. We were all alone."
"Were you scared?"
"Terrified. But look at me now. Happy as ever. And me leaving gave my son the opportunity to be a good citizen. He did hit a rough patch all a little over twenty years ago, something he still won't tell me about. But over all, he has overcome the past and is a good man. Something he wouldn't have if we'd stayed."
"You're brave."
I meant every word.
"So are you."
"Not like you. I'm running away from a life I can't have. You were running away from a life you shouldn't have had."
"Was it painful?"
I thought back about the pain I felt when I saw his arms around her waist. Or the pain I felt when his lips were on hers.
"Yes." I paused before continuing to speak. "But not the kind of pain that you felt. I'm running away from a man that I loved who has vowed himself to another. It was a heartbreak kind of pain, not a physical one."
"Pain is pain. No matter the form."
I started to smile when suddenly goosebumps covered my entire body. The feeling that kept resurfacing in the presence of one person. I turned slowly, and a middle-aged man came into view. He was standing right behind me, in a nice suit and tie. His blue eyes met mine and a chill ran down my spine.
"Ma." His deep alluring voice spoke, gathering the attention of the woman sitting in front of me.
Did he say Ma? Like in, mom?
"Come." She addressed him while waving him over.
"Zola, meet my son, Theseus. Theseus, meet Zola."
I knew those eyes. They were the eyes I couldn't get out of my head. It was him. He was here. Was this just a mere coincidence, or was meeting both of them meant to be?