章 124: Skin to skin

　　BEN

　　I wake up alone. Gracie left me. My heart skips at the thought. She couldn’t have left me at this point, right? I put on the nearest item of clothing next to me and rush to the door. Wait. I turn slowly. Her bags are still here. My legs remember how to function, I grab my phone and start for the door again. There are three messages from her. All of them are from two hours ago. 

　　A relieved sound breaks free from my lips and I slide down the door. Gracie didn’t leave me. She won’t leave me. We will be together forever. 

　　The pad of my thumb runs over her last message and a smile falls on my lips. My love for her is more than an exponent and it multiplies daily. 

　　A crash downstairs stops me from composing a reply to Gracie. I open the door and the source of the noise becomes clearer. Mum and Josef.