In Chapter 20 of “Before Sunrise Touches Earth We Forgive What Hurt Us,” the protagonist, Rosette, experiences a moment of vulnerability after accidentally spilling coffee on her face. This incident triggers a wave of frustration and an unexpected urge to cry, emotions she is not accustomed to expressing. Axel, a character who shows genuine concern for her well-being, helps her navigate through her pain. As he tends to her, Rosette grapples with the realization that she has never had anyone care for her in such a way, making her feel both vulnerable and exposed.
As Axel and her friends, Kross and Kade, express their worry and concern, Rosette is confronted with her past and the emotional scars left by her parents. The conversation shifts to a darker tone as Axel suggests revenge against her mother, revealing a deeper connection among the group and their willingness to protect her. This moment of camaraderie is contrasted by Rosette’s internal struggle with her emotions, as she feels uncomfortable with the idea of revenge and the implications of expressing her pain.
After a brief moment of levity, where Axel’s humor brings a flicker of warmth to Rosette’s heart, the atmosphere turns serious again. When she attempts to retreat from the conversation, she is met with Axel’s sudden departure, leaving her feeling abandoned and uncertain. Rosette’s longing for normalcy is palpable as she navigates her feelings of confusion and fear, especially when she wakes up to find Axel in her room, but something about him feels different—his eyes glowing with an intensity that unsettles her.
The chapter captures Rosette’s emotional turmoil as she struggles to reconcile her past with her present. Despite the moments of connection with Axel and her friends, she is haunted by her history of isolation and the fear of vulnerability. As she confronts these feelings, the narrative hints at a deeper transformation within Axel, leaving Rosette—and the reader—on edge about what lies ahead. The chapter culminates in a blend of warmth and apprehension, setting the stage for further exploration of their complex relationships and the mysteries that surround them.
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**Before Sunrise Touches Earth We Forgive What Hurt Us by Vik Rowan Tate**
**Chapter 20**
“Seriously? For crying out loud, seriously?!”
“It burns!” I exclaimed, my hands still clutching my face in an attempt to shield it from the world. A wave of frustration washed over me, mingling with an unexpected urge to cry. This was a new sensation, one that caught me off guard. I had faced far worse pains in my life, endured moments that made my throat constrict in agony, yet now, as I stood there, my chest felt tight, my throat ached, and my eyes stung fiercely. And oddly enough, it wasn’t even the coffee that had caused this turmoil.
No, this was Axel, hovering over me with a look of genuine concern etched on his features.
“Christ, Rosette,” he muttered, his voice thick with worry as he grasped my hand, gently peeling it away from my face. He guided me out of the kitchen, his tone shifting from irritation to something softer. “Are you trying to get yourself killed?! Is this your plan to escape us?”
“What happened?” Kross’s voice cut through the tension, his usual calm demeanor replaced with an edge of anxiety. I kept my eyes shut tight, not wanting to face the world just yet, both because of the burning sensation and the fear that I might give in to tears.
“She spilled coffee on her face,” Axel explained, his voice steady as he helped me sit down.
“What?!” Kross and Kade exclaimed in unison, their voices rising in disbelief.
“On her face?” Kade echoed, his presence suddenly beside me. I could feel him kneeling close to the ground, his voice low and filled with concern. “How could you be so careless?”
“How much does it hurt?” Kross asked, also kneeling in front of me, his expression serious and attentive.
“It doesn’t hurt much,” I whispered, lying through clenched teeth. In reality, the pain was almost unbearable.
“Liar,” Axel interjected, returning with a cold towel. “Can you open your eyes?”
I shook my head stubbornly, not wanting to face them, even though I knew I could.
“That’s okay,” he said softly, placing the cool cloth against my face and another at my feet. A sigh of relief escaped me as the tension began to ebb away.
Finally, I managed to pry my eyes open, and the sight that greeted me was three faces, all drawn tight with concern, hovering close.
“Well, hello there,” Axel said gently, a smile breaking through the worry. “Welcome back to the land of the living.”
As I closed my eyes again, the burning sensation returned, and I swallowed hard, pushing down the lump that had formed in my throat. When had anyone ever cared about my pain? The answer was simple: never. I had always nursed my wounds in solitude, never shedding a tear, never allowing sadness to seep into my soul. I simply shrugged off the hurt and moved forward, burying the pain deep within.
“Come on, open your eyes,” Axel teased lightly. “I know it doesn’t hurt that much.”
“It doesn’t,” I admitted, squeezing my eyes shut even tighter.
“Then why keep them closed?” Kade asked, his voice gentle yet probing.
I couldn’t find the words to respond; I didn’t even want to speak, fearing that if I did, my voice would crack and the tears would flow. My bottom lip quivered slightly, and I bit down on it to suppress the emotion.
“Oh, poor Rosette,” Axel whispered, his tone shifting to one of genuine sadness. “You’ve never had anyone care for you, have you? Isn’t that right, sweetheart?”
He always seemed to know, as if he could read the unspoken words hidden beneath my skin. I didn’t understand how he managed to see through my façade, but he did, and it made me feel vulnerable. He brushed his thumb softly against my cheek, and despite my turmoil, I found myself nodding in agreement.
An awkward silence enveloped the room, and then Axel broke it, saying, “Let’s give her some space.”
Without hesitation, the other two shifted away, and as Axel’s touch left my skin, I felt an emptiness settle in.
I finally opened my eyes again, but this time, I focused on my feet, where a pack of ice lay resting. “I’m sorry,” I murmured, the words slipping out before I could stop them.
“For what?” Kross asked, his voice surprisingly gentle.
For being an emotional mess.
Axel scoffed lightly. “For being emotional.”
My head snapped to him, eyes wide with shock. What the hell?! Could he read minds?
His smile broadened, and he shook his head. “No, sweetheart. I don’t read minds.”
My disbelief must have been clear on my face, as I stared at him in astonishment. “Liar.”
He erupted into laughter, a deep, rich sound that filled the room and shook his entire body. I couldn’t help but watch, my heart warming at the sight.
As his laughter subsided, he wiped away the tears that had gathered in his eyes. “Oh, you’re funny.”
“I’m… funny?” I asked, confusion knitting my brow.
He simply smiled softly at me. “That’s what I just said.”
“Why would you be sorry for being emotional?” Kross inquired, drawing my attention back to him.
I quickly looked away, biting my lip as I stared down at my feet, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment. What was I supposed to say? That I had never been allowed to express my emotions growing up? That showing any sign of weakness would lead to punishment?
“What was your relationship with your parents, Rosette?” Kade asked, his voice steady. “With your mother?”
I felt a wave of discomfort wash over me, the urge to fidget overwhelming. “It wasn’t good.”
“That’s a sweet way to say it,” Axel murmured, his voice laced with understanding. “She hurt you, didn’t she? Both of them, before your bastard of a father died.”
I nodded slowly, and suddenly, the atmosphere in the room shifted. It transformed from a gentle concern to something charged and intense.
Looking up, I noticed the men’s eyes seemed to glow momentarily, but as I blinked, it vanished. Was I imagining things? Was the pain causing me to hallucinate?
“Well, your father is dead,” Axel stated, his voice deeper than usual, “but your mother is still alive.” Kade continued, his tone equally rough. I glanced between them, confusion knitting my brows.
“Will you want payback?” Kross asked, his arms crossed over his chest. He appeared calm, yet there was a hardness in his gaze that sent a shiver down my spine.
“P-payback?” I stammered, glancing between them, my heart racing. “What kind of payback?”
“Make her feel what you felt,” Axel said, lifting his hand and counting on his fingers as he spoke. “Make her suffer like you did. Make her as miserable as you were. The list goes on, sweetheart. All you need to do is just say the word.”
My eyes widened in shock. If they got any wider, I was afraid they might pop right out of my head. I looked between the three of them, searching for a hint of humor, but their expressions were dead serious.
“Why would you even do all that for me?” I asked, my voice trembling slightly as I looked at them.
They shrugged in unison, the synchronized movement sending a chill down my spine. I had had enough of this conversation. I stood up abruptly, the ice pack slipping from my lap and falling to the floor. “I think I need to go back to sleep.”
“Wait,” Axel said, and I turned back to him. He stood still, not approaching me as he spoke. “I won’t be home for a while. Something came up that I need to handle.”
I nodded, turning away and heading up the stairs.
“Don’t go to the greenhouse today,” Kross called after me, and I gave him a thumbs-up without looking back.
“And apply some ointment on your face and feet!” Kade added, but I didn’t bother to respond.
I needed sleep. Maybe when I woke up, everything would be back to normal. Because nothing about any of this felt normal.
***
Hunger jolted me awake. I swung my legs over the side of the bed, ready to make my way downstairs, but paused when I noticed a tray sitting outside my door. Curiosity piqued, I bent down to pick it up and returned to my room, shutting the door behind me. The tray was filled with food—exactly what I consumed every day—juice and an ointment. But there was something else, a note resting atop the food.
I unfolded the note, marveling at the beautiful handwriting that adorned the page.
“See you in a week,” it read. “The tray was Kross’s idea, by the way. To say I was shocked when he suggested it would be an understatement. The ice king is melting. Don’t miss me too much.
With love,
Axel.”
I read the note twice, and when I caught myself smiling, I quickly tossed it aside, trying to suppress the warmth spreading in my chest. I devoured every morsel on the tray, savoring the familiar flavors before heading to the shower. Afterward, I crawled back into bed, hoping to drift off once more.
Things weren’t normal yet. I needed them to be normal again.
When I finally woke up again, darkness enveloped the room. I sat up slowly, rubbing my eyes until I froze, noticing that my window was wide open. I was certain I had closed it before falling asleep.
I slipped out of bed, walking cautiously toward the window, the only sounds being my bare feet against the floor and the gentle rustle of the wind outside. As I reached the window and peered out, I found nothing but shadows and silence.
I closed the window, exhaling a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. But as I turned around, my heart raced when I was met with glowing eyes in the darkness. Before I could scream, a firm hand was over my mouth, silencing me.
“Hush now, sweetheart,” a familiar voice whispered, his warm body pressing against mine.
“Axel?” I mumbled against his hand, confusion and fear swirling within me.
“Uh-huh.”
It was Axel, yet something felt off. He felt… wrong. And this time, his eyes truly glowed, a mesmerizing intensity that sent a shiver of apprehension down my spine. His face was so close to mine that all I could see were those captivating eyes.
This was Axel… yet he wasn’t.
Conclusion
In the aftermath of the chaos, Rosette found herself navigating through a whirlwind of emotions that had long been buried beneath layers of solitude and pain. The concern etched on the faces of Axel, Kross, and Kade had cracked open a door she thought was sealed shut forever. For the first time, she felt the weight of care, a sensation both foreign and overwhelming. As she stood on the precipice of vulnerability, the realization that she was not alone began to take root in her heart. The laughter and teasing that followed her moment of despair felt like a balm, soothing the raw edges of her past. Despite her instinct to retreat back into the shadows of her own making, she found herself inching toward a flicker of hope, a possibility that perhaps she could allow herself to feel, to express, and to be cared for without fear of reprisal.
Yet, as she drifted into sleep, the shadows of her past loomed large, reminding her that the journey toward healing wouldn’t be linear or easy. The unexpected return of Axel, now cloaked in an unsettling aura, signified that her past was not done with her yet. The warmth and safety she had begun to embrace were juxtaposed with the chilling uncertainty of what lay ahead. The glowing eyes that pierced through the darkness were a stark reminder that while she had taken a step toward forgiveness and acceptance, the shadows still held secrets waiting to be unveiled. In this delicate balance between healing and the haunting remnants of her history, Rosette stood at a crossroads, her heart racing with both trepidation and an undeniable yearning for connection.
What to Expect in Next Chapter?
In the next chapter of *Before Sunrise Touches Earth We Forgive What Hurt Us*, prepare to delve deeper into the enigmatic connection between Rosette and Axel. The tension that has been building will reach a boiling point as Rosette grapples with her feelings of vulnerability and the strange, almost supernatural aura that surrounds Axel. What does his glowing gaze signify? Is it a manifestation of his concern for her, or does it hint at something darker lurking beneath the surface? As Rosette navigates this new and unsettling dynamic, readers can expect a blend of suspense and emotional turmoil that will keep them on the edge of their seats.
Moreover, the looming question of Rosette’s past and the potential confrontation with her mother will surface in ways that challenge her newfound relationships. Will she find the strength to confront the pain that has haunted her for so long, or will she retreat into the safety of her solitude? The stakes will rise as Axel’s true nature is revealed, and the trio of Kross, Kade, and Axel will have to decide just how far they are willing to go to protect Rosette from her past. Expect twists and revelations that will not only test the bonds between them but also redefine what it means to forgive and heal. The journey ahead promises to be both harrowing and transformative, leaving readers eager for more.
