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How long had it been there? Unrecognized, denied even, yet there all the sa or even why? She couldn’t pinpoint an exact moment she’d fallen in love with Wade Maybe the seed had been there froht, resented, even feared or perhaps she’d felt undeserving She’d spent soloved and as a result hadn’t ever allowed herself to love Self-preservation A defense mechanism she was only all too well acquainted with

She’d spent her young life wanting what so ht that her ultimate dream had come true, only to realize how hopelessly naïve and desperate not to mention weak, brainless and foolish she’d been Then she’d veered to the opposite extre herself to become e anyone with her one to work for DSS had she finally begun to open up to others, but it hadn’t been overnight or even soon It had been a gradual process and it had taken time for Eliza not only to want or demand trust froh in her judgment to finally place her trust in even those closest to her

The people she worked with taught her about love What love really was and what it wasn’t, but Eliza had always been an observer On the outside looking in Wade hadn’t just taught her how to let herself love and be loved He’d shown her with his actions far more than with his words

For the first time in her life, Eliza loved Deeply Passionately Unconditionally Limitless With a fierceness she hadn’t known existed when loving so the parade of hts that had to be obvious due to her ever-changing expressions and the sheer awe and wonder that coursed through her blood like theShe owed hiiven her but she was terrified to make herself so vulnerable when she’d sworn that she would never let herself be as exposed and fragile as she’d been when Melissa Caldwell still existed

At the thought of that naer existed, Eliza stopped cold in her tracks, going utterly still as her face and eyes filled onder and revelation Dear God, how could she have been so blind? So deeply rooted in the past of a person who didn’t even exist that she’d never allowed herself to live And be free

Wade’s brow furrowed and where before he’d see theEliza’s self-de, now he looked worried and uncertain

Then Eliza s that the corners of her mouth stretched to the point of disco joy like she’d never experienced or felt in her life She reached out to pal it between her hands as she stared lovingly into his eyes, for once unafraid to be vulnerable, to open herself up and allow someone into places in her heart and soul that no one had ever had access to She was safe And she was loved

"I’m not her," she whispered in awe

And then she pro Wade into complete panic, his eyes wild and frantic She wrapped her ar on to hi to hi sobs welling froht she’d lost a lifetio, but Wade had restored it, healed it and her With his love

She cried, not because she was unhappy but because she was finally releasing pent-up eo of all the grief, the guilt and so er felt

She was free Finally free of the bonds she’d placed on herself after being freed of the bonds Thomas had imprisoned her with

You don’t have to carry your burden alone, Eliza