Chapter 2
Third person’s POV
Y/N woke up the next morning and only a few moments after scanning the room did she realize that she was in a loop. She rose up from the bed, changed her clothes and headed downstairs.
Before she could get past the threshold to the kitchen, she was surprised to notice Alma against the kitchen counter preparing what seems to be for breakfast. Not wanting to disturb the woman, she sneakily patted outside instead to get some fresh air for she wanted to avoid the prospect of spending the time alone with the woman. She cannot help but feel the uneasiness. Just as she was about to exit from the spot, Alma called out.
“Y/N..?”
“Yes Alma?” she replied in the most composed manner she could muster though it is evident for as observant as Alma that she was nervous.
“Where are you heading?”
“Outside, wanna grab some…fresh morning air” she breathed out
“Okay, don’t be long. Breakfast will be prepared sooner than you might think”
“Yeah…I’ll be back”
She stepped outside and let her senses being relieved by the aesthetic of the natural world. She smiled and she cannot reckon the beauty of the loop compared to the dystopian outside world. She roamed towards the breadth of the yard and was amused by the discoveries of the topiaries. Having spent enough time with her little exploration, she headed inside.
“Ah! There you are perfect timing for breakfast, have a seat”
The children are already on their respective chairs and an empty seat was left on the side of Alma’s.
She was nervous but she took the seat anyway. Suddenly, a chair across was being moved back by its own. Out of instinct, she grabbed the knife and assumed a fighting stance ready to fight the monster, well as she thought so.
“Hey!” shouted the voice from nowhere.
Fortunately, Alma was fast enough to grab Y/N’s arm to be stopped before she could kill one of her wards.
“Y/N that’s Millard!”
Y/N’s head was snapped to Alma. A shocked face was displayed on her face. And as she scanned her surrounding, the children were shocked as well Claire and Bronwyn who were in utter shock that tears started to gather in their eyes. She sat back down putting the knife away embarrassed by having ruined the mood first thing in the morning.
“I’m sorry. I thought you were a hollow Millard.”
A collective sigh was emanated from the children. Y/N stole a glance at Alma only to be met with a gaze of disappointment. She dropped her eyes before she closed them seemingly swallowing a lump in her throat before she breathed out a long sigh.
What follows is the tense mood that lasted throughout the meal. The dead air lasted a while until Emma broke the ice of silence when she noticed that Y/N was eating solely by her left hand and was seemed to be at difficulty not to mention, she remembers that Y/N is right-handed.
“Hey Y/N, I bet you need the fork placed on your right.” Simply implying her to use Y/N’s other hand. Y/N got her implications and since she does not want to spoil the children especially Alma about her disability, she shrugged it off.
“I am fine Emma.”
__________
As soon as breakfast was done, the children headed to the yard to play whatever they please. Y/N initiated on offering help to Alma. She made her part on putting the dishes to the sink only to be halted by an uncalled questioning from Alma.
“Is there something you want to tell me Y/N? I can feel there is.”
Time seemed to freeze as Y/N was quite unprepared for such moment of having to share a conversation with Alma. The woman never fails to buckle her knees making her fall under her supremacy despite knowing that she was her former lover, and that there must be a sense of equality between them.
“I don’t know. How can you say so by the way?”
“Because I can tell. I know you well enough that should you have something unpleasant to speak out, you would tense and try your hardest to shrug it off.”
Y/N closed her eyes. And as she opened them to meet Alma’s, she winced by her piercing gaze that strips her flesh, looking straight at her soul.
“I..” she stuttered “My torso is half-paralysed which is why I cannot lift my right arm.”
“I am sorry.” She averted her gaze as she was slightly guilty for prying. But how can she not? Y/N is hers after all and she deserved to care for her well-being.
Not wanting to further delve into the moment, she stepped out and headed upstairs to process her thoughts as well as the slight commotion with Millard earlier. As she made her way up the stairs, she heard a sniffle from the kitchen. This is much for her to bear given that she is still vulnerable from the coma, with no memories, and a half-paralyzed torso. It is just so overwhelming.
Moreover, she cannot bear to see what the children and their headmistress have ensued due to her condition.
She laid on her bed and closed her eyes. A few tears slipped down to the side of her face.