Don't blame yourself, it's not your fault 

Chapter two hundred and three

Anna and Xander sat on a slab on the road, about twenty minutes after. Xander didn't mind that his clothes would get dirty, all he wanted was for her to talk it all out so that she would feel better.

"When I was trapped in that glass, I was so scared. But when I saw Jaden, I felt a lot better. He tried to get me out of the glass and even hurt himself in the process. I knew that I would have felt so lonely in that haunted house if he hadn't been there with me.

You know, Jaden was my only true friend in the company. I've known him for just a couple of weeks, but somehow, I grew so attached to him. He was a really nice man, one that doesn't deserve to die. While I was trapped in that glass, he kept telling me to hold on and never give up. I'd almost lost hope, I thought that we would never be found, but he made me believe that we could still make it out of that place alive."

"If only I knew that things would turn out this way, I would have let him know how much he meant to me. But, I guess it's too late now." Another tear escaped from her eyes and she wiped it off with her finger.

"It hurts. It hurts so much to lose a friend, a good one at that." Anna found fresh tears streaming down her cheeks.

"He'd saved me in different instances. He was just like a knight in shining armour. I feel so bad that I couldn't do anything for him. You know, if only Jaden hadn't followed me when he saw that I was kidnapped, maybe he would still be alive now. He didn't mind that he was risking his life, he followed nonetheless. It's my fault that he's dead now."

"It's not your fault, Anna. You didn't kill him, Jonathan did. Don't blame yourself for something you didn't cause." Xander placed his large palm on her hands. Her fingers were intertwined together. Xander pulled her in for a hug again, and she let him embrace her. She needed this hug so much. She melted in his embrace, staying there for as long as she could. His hug was soothing, it calmed her like a salve.

Despite the situation, Xander felt turned on by Anna. He knew that this was however not the time to give in to his lustful desires. He'd wanted to kiss her since he saw her, even now that she was vulnerable, but he didn't want to take advantage of the situation.

After she released herself from his embrace, he asked her how she was feeling now.

"I feel somewhat better. Thank you so much, Mr Williams. Thank you for being here. Thank you for saving me." She was getting teary again.

"Can we head back to the truck now?" Xander asked, and Anna nodded her head in reply. He was being so sweet to her.

Xander helped her to the car and wore her seatbelt for her. Their bodies touched briefly and Anna felt tingles in her body. She was still very much attracted to him and her body still knew him- it knew him so well.

About fifteen minutes after they continued driving back to the city, Anna spoke again.

"I'm sorry about what happened earlier," Anna was referring to how she was hitting him with her fists, and Xander knew what she meant.

"It's alright, Anna. I understand."

"Thank you again," Anna said, giving him a sad smile.

The drive back to the city was silent, except for the soft music playing in the background.