Alicia's hand trembled slightly as her fingertips were about to make contact with Zeke's face. She halted, her lips parting and closing, unable to find the words to articulate the overwhelming emotions coursing through her. Her eyes remained wide with disbelief as they fixated on the man she had been yearning for with every fiber of her being, the man she loved beyond measure.
Zeke's face, still exuding its timeless handsomeness, bore a subtle transformation. She couldn't quite tell put to words what exactly had changed but there was something about his appearance had hardened, toughened. And it only made him look even more breathtaking. Whatever had changed certainly had molded him into a more intriguing figure than ever before.
His grey eyes… they shone with an intensity she had never seen before. The enigmatic calmness that once defined his gaze had been replaced by a whirlwind of emotions, mirroring her own inner turmoil. His eyes seemed to reflect her deepest sentiments, except for that flicker of unadulterated relief. In this moment, he seemed so vivid, so achingly real. Despite the dreamlike quality of his appearance, Alicia couldn't shake the overwhelming sensation that this Ezekiel before her was not just a figment of her imagination.
"Ez... Ezekiel?" Alicia's voice quivered with a mixture of longing and disbelief. Her yearning to touch him, to embrace him, and validate that he was indeed real surged like tidal waves within her. She needed confirmation that this was not another fleeting dream but a reality.
Yet, a lingering fear coiled within her, threatening to overshadow her longing. She feared that the moment her fingertips touched his skin, he would dissolve into nothingness and vanish like a wisp of smoke. If he were merely a figment of her imagination, Alicia wished to at least prolong this precious illusion, to etch his face into her memory a little while longer.
But then, Zeke's smile unfurled, accompanied by a gentle and deep hum. His eyes sparkled with a warmth that transcended words. "Yes, Alicia... it's me," he assured her, his voice filled with tenderness and sincerity, looking at her like he was already more than aware of the exact doubt and turmoil that was consuming her.
As Alicia's body remained frozen and her hand was still suspended in midair, Zeke slowly lifted his own hand, and gently grasped her wrist. With a tender touch, he guided her palm to rest against his cheek.
"I'm not a dream this time, my love," Zeke whispered, his voice carrying an assurance that echoed in the depths of her being. Then he leaned forward, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. The sensation of his lips against her skin sent waves of relief cascading over Alicia, mingling with overwhelming joy and disbelief.
In that moment, as Zeke pulled away from the tender kiss, Alicia's hand moved swiftly, capturing his face between her palms. The touch was filled with fervor, a silent declaration of her longing and the uncontainable relief that was coiling within her. She felt the texture of his skin, the contours of his face, and it was real— so undeniably real.
Alicia pressed her palm harder against Zeke's cheek, as if seeking more confirmation in the solidity of his bone and flesh.
"You're... really real..." Her voice escaped in a fragile whisper, choked with a mix of awe and vulnerability as tears began to well in her eyes.
Zeke's gaze remained fixed on her, his eyes filled with remorse and an unspoken apology. He watched as her lips trembled and as her tears threatened to overflow.
"Alicia..." His voice wavered with a tenderness that only deepened the ache within him.
And in a heartbeat, she cried out his name, her voice carrying a mix of relief, longing, and the weight of all their shared pain. Her tears cascaded uncontrollably, and Zeke, without hesitation, pressed his forehead against hers.
"I'm sorry..." His whisper held the weight of remorse, of regrets that stretched beyond words. He yearned to ease her pain, to bear the burden of his absence and the impact it had on her heart.
As their foreheads touched, bridging the physical and emotional space between them, Alicia's tears mingled with a cathartic release of emotions, while Zeke, seemingly calm, carried a tempest within. But his hand trembled against the bedsheet, knuckles white and veins strained—a testament to the depth of his emotions that threatened to consume him.
The room was filled with an atmosphere of surprise and disbelief as Zeke's voice resonated with a vulnerability that none of them had ever witnessed before. Gav, in particular, was the most stunned among them all, his features etched with shock.
Recognizing the need for privacy and space, Alex, subtly gestured for everyone to leave the room. And with a shared understanding, the others followed suit, their footsteps silent as they exited.
Elle, cradled securely and lovingly in Sebastian's arms, turned and looked behind as the door slowly closed. The scene she saw made her smile. Despite the heartache underlying the reunion, there was an undeniable warmth in witnessing the reconnection of two souls who had long yearned for one another.
As the group gathered outside the room, their attention turned to Azy, who had quietly followed them. Alex was ready to offer his thoughts and was about to speak when Azy, with a single uplifted finger, urged his uncle to remain silent, his sweet smile conveying a message that resonated with each of them: "It's okay. Let Mom and Dad have their moment."
Azy's expression said it all, assuring everyone that this was what he wished for—his parents having this long-awaited reunion. His genuine desire, coupled with the joy radiating from the boy's face, left them all unable to find words. In that moment, they understood that honoring Azy's wish was more important than any immediate questions or explanations.
Amidst the silence, Alex reached out, his hand coming to rest gently on Azy's head. With that gentle pat, Alex silently conveyed his support and understanding for Azy's decision.
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