Dominic
I grab Eloise's hand, all but dragging her out of bed. She stumbles behind me but there is no time to waste, so once we have secured her footing we make haste. I lead her downstairs silently. She doesn't ask questions. When I glance back at her before we are finished with the staircase, her eyes have that thousand-yard stare. Vibrant denim blue irises are now faded and acid-washed, drained of vibrancy and color. Everything is in my space in the basement. I couldn't stand the thought of having such filth around the Christmas wonderland Eloise and I constructed. Our home is tainted by the events of that night already. It will never be the same.
Outside of the basement door I pull Eloise into a hug, gathering strength so I can be her pillar of support when she sees what I have seen.
