Chapter 2
Carmilla spun around at the sound of the girl calling her name. She knew exactly who it was and she had never been more terrified or excited in her life.
It was Laura. Laura, the girl whose heart she had broken. She was at a loss for words. She didn’t know what she could say. Her breath hitched and she looked at Laura. She didn’t look very healthy. She was definitely much thinner than she had been and had dark purple circles under her eyes. But she was still Laura, and she still loved her with everything she had.
Laura walked closer to Carmilla. To the dark-haired girl’s surprise, Laura grabbed her waist and pulled her in for a hug, her tight embrace knocking all the air out of Carmilla’s lungs. She might not have been able to breathe, but it was the best feeling she had experienced in three years. All of a sudden, it felt like all the pain she had felt over the past few years had never existed. She felt…alive. Whole.
They stayed locked in this way for what felt like hours, Laura’s head buried in Carmilla’s shoulder.
‘I’ve missed you,’ Laura mumbled into Carmilla’s shirt.
‘I’ve missed you too.’ Carmilla said, choking back tears that were threatening to spill. She knew Laura was crying because she heard the soft little whimpers she remembered so well. The whimpers that caused her own tears to start gently falling, like the first droplets of rain before a thunderstorm.
Carmilla gently pushed Laura away so that she could talk to her, her hands lingering on Laura’s waist. Before she could open her mouth, however, she felt Laura’s soft lips on hers. Electricity sparked between them and Carmilla felt it spreading throughout her whole body, simultaneously calming her and setting her alight. It was like a switch had gone off in her mind and suddenly everything made sense. She was home again, tangled in this girl’s arms.
But she knew they had to talk, that all their problems couldn’t dissipate with a kiss. So she pulled her head gently back and opened her eyes. She looked at Laura, who wouldn’t open her eyes, probably because she was scared of what she might see if she opened them. Carmilla put her hand under Laura’s chin and tipped her head upwards, making Laura’s eyes open and look directly into Carmilla’s.
‘Listen, we need to talk. Properly. Can we go to your place?’ Carmilla asked.
Laura shook her head and buried it back into Carmilla’s shoulder, shaking as her tears started to flow faster, sobs racking her body. Carmilla picked her head up and looked her in the eye, immediately worried that she had done something wrong.
‘What is it?’
‘Nothing…I’m just…overwhelmed. You’ve been gone for so long, and now you’re back. Why now?’
Carmilla sighed and gently squeezed Laura’s hand. ‘I’ll tell you everything I promise.’
‘Okay. Tell me.’ Laura said, standing up straighter.
‘Not here. Let’s go to your house, I can’t go home yet.’
‘Okay,’ Laura said as she gave Carmilla another kiss. Softer, this time. Calmer. Like they weren’t in any hurry any more. They would be okay, they could both feel it. Carmilla reached for Laura’s hand and held it tight, scared to let go. She knew she never would let go ever again. They began to walk slowly over the bridge and towards Laura’s house. They walked in silence, neither knowing quite what to say. It wasn’t awkward, however. It was a peaceful sort of calm. They both took comfort not in words but in simply knowing the other was beside them. Time slowed as their feet automatically guided them home.
They arrived at 307 Crestmont Avenue, where Laura lived, after what felt like hours but must only have been fifteen minutes or so. Laura knocked on the door, remembering she hadn’t brought her keys with her. She heard Sherman’s footsteps coming towards them and Laura squeezed Carmilla’s hand to calm her obvious nerves. Carmilla gave her a small smile and tried to slow her breathing down to something reasonably normal. Laura’s father opened the door and saw Carmilla standing next to Laura for the first time in years. His face softened and he strode up to them, a shocked expression on his slightly wrinkled face. He looked at Carmilla, then at Laura, then back at Carmilla. To everyone’s shock, he extended an arm out to the raven-haired girl. Tears collected in Carmilla’s eyes as she shook his hand firmly. Sherman smiled at her, nodded his head slightly and pulled them both into a hug.
‘My girls…’ he mumbled. Carmilla’s tears began to fall after she heard that. She had always felt like the odd one out, the black sheep, in her family. No matter how much they loved her, she knew she stuck out like a sore thumb. She was the thorn among the roses and everyone knew it. With Laura and Sherman, it was different. She belonged. She made a promise to herself then, wrapped up in the strong arms of her girlfriend’s father and the comforting ones of her love. She promised herself she’d never go back to her biological family. She didn’t deserve the negativity they brought into her life. Sure, her stepbrother Will was okay, but even he mercilessly teased her and she hated putting up with his stupidity all the time. So she made a vow to surround herself with people that made her happy, people that truly loved her. People like Laura, like Sherman, like her friends. They were the people she deserved and they deserved her. She knew she couldn’t settle for less. So she wouldn’t. Carmilla smiled and buried her head in Laura’s chest as Sherman pulled away.
‘Now, girls, are we going to continue providing the neighbours with a show or shall we go inside and have some cocoa?’ Sherman chuckled as Carmilla and Laura followed him inside, hands entwined.
An hour or so later and the three of them sat on the cosy cream-coloured sofa in front of the fireplace, sipping cocoa in front of the warm fireplace. They watched the flames flicker and fall in perfect silence, none of the wanting to ruin the moment. Sherman sat with one arm around his daughter, giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze every once in a while. Laura sat next to Carmilla, her head buried in Carmilla’s shoulder. Carmilla still held Laura’s hand, refusing to let go. She wouldn’t let go again. They sat like this for a while, each person reflecting on the surprises the day had brought. Laura almost dying, Carmilla returning… it was too much to process quickly. So they enjoyed each other’s company, the only noise in the room being the soft crackle of the yellow flames dancing in front of them. Sherman noticed that the two girls were growing sleepy, Laura almost having fallen asleep in Carmilla’s comforting embrace. Sherman nudged Carmilla and together they carried Laura upstairs into her room. They lay her down on her bed and Carmilla tucked the pink sheets around her. Sherman patted Carmilla’s shoulder and left the room, sensing the two might want some privacy. Laura stirred and looked up at Carmilla, her small face softening in the warm light from her lamp. She couldn’t sleep without it on, she never could. Carmilla smiled at the memory and kissed Laura’s forehead gently, then the tip of her nose. She knew that always made Laura giggle, and that day was no different. Carmilla’s eyes filled with tears as she remembered the hundreds of times they had shared a similar moment. Laura noticed and raised her hand to Carmilla’s cheek, worry in her eyes.
‘Carm, what is it?’ Carmilla gave a breathy laugh and looked down.
‘Laura, I’m sorry. I’m so sorr-’ Carmilla was cut off as Laura raised her head from her pillow and kissed Carmilla, who melted the second their lips touched.
‘It’s okay. You’re here now. That’s all that matters.’ Laura smiled at Carmilla, who gave a small grin back.
‘Stay with me, Carm.’ Laura said softly. Carmilla smiled and climbed into bed beside her. They snuggled up together, Laura curled up, enveloped in Carmilla. Carmilla stroked her hair, which she knew always put Laura to sleep.
‘I love you.’
‘I love you too.’