Natalia Blackwell sat in the library. It was her safe haven, the place where she felt comfortable. Away from the chaos and pain of her home, a place that shouldn’t be hard to stay in. Any chance she got to escape, she took it. Ever since she was old enough to realize what was going on in her life, she hated being at home. It took so much energy from her. She barely felt alive in that place. She wished it had been different, that thought was her constant companion. However, when she was at her library it was different. She didn’t feel as lonely with a good book in her lap. Nobody was screaming, or crying, or suffering. It was quiet there. 

She was sitting in the Mythology section of the library, reading the story of Isis and Osiris, a tale of true love and sacrifice. The story had always moved Natalia. It was a fantasy of hers to have someone who would love her like that, but she knew that was impossible. She didn’t know what love felt like. She only knew what was in books. 

“It’s fascinating, isn’t it?” A deep accented voice broke her out of the false realities of the book. 

“What is?” She asked, looking up at the young man who leaned against the shelf. She took in his appearance: his grayish-blue eyes, delicate features, brown shaggy hair, and lean structure. The man weirdly fascinated Natalia. He wore khaki colored cargo pants, with a black sweater over a white button down. She felt intrigued, wanting to know more. 

“The love of Isis and Osiris,” he smiled. It was a comforting smile.

“Of course it is. She was head-over-heels in love with him. He was her world and when he died, she would do anything to get him back. She fed him life.” She pointed to the Ankh on the cover of the book. “That type of love just isn’t possible in this world.” Natalia could go on and on about this story, but she didn’t want to creep him out. 

“You really believe that? I think that if two people are fated to be together, there is no love stronger than that,” he said, coming over to where Natalia sat at the alcove by the window. He sat down, leaning his back on the wall opposite from her. “I’m Archer Deveraux.” 

Natalia was now fully immersed in this mysterious man. “Natalia, Blackwell,” she smiled. “Your point, it makes sense, but do you really think people are willing to sacrifice so much for another person?” 

He shrugged and smirked, “I don’t know, why don’t we find out?” 

Six months had passed since they first met. It had been the best six months of Natalia’s life. She spent next to no time at home, spending all of her spare time with Archer. It was now the summer before her first year of college. She had gotten into her dream college, and it turned out Archer was also going to a nearby college. Everything was going right for her. However, she was getting a bad feeling about her lucky streak. She was right, of course. She overheard her father talking about not wanting to send her to college. It had been on her mind the entire day, and she was beginning to think Archer was catching onto her sour mood. 

“Nat, do you want to go to the amusement park tonight? It seems like fun, and they opened a new roller coaster a few days ago,” he said, moving the shoulder Natalia was leaning on. They were sitting on the bed of his black truck watching the sunrise. 

“Mhm,” she responded, not hearing what he said. Her thoughts were preoccupied with what her father had said last night. 

“Natalia, look at me,” He said, lifting her face up with a hand. She looked at him, his eyes expressing concern. 

“Please don’t look at me like that. I’m fine.” She brushed his hand off her cheek. 

“You know I worry about you Nat. You’ve been distant recently. Is something going on?” 

Natalia hesitated a little, knowing Archer was going to know she was lying. “No.” 

“Tell me,” Archer murmured, but she could tell he wasn’t going to let her argue with him. 

She looked back at the setting sun for a few moments. “It’s my dad.” 

He remained silent waiting for her to continue. She had told him some of her life, how she hated being at home, but never the why. 

“I haven’t told anyone about us. I don’t know how, but my dad found out. I’ve told you that he depends a little too much on alcohol. He just…” She paused, upsetting memories flashing across her mind. She felt Archer’s arm tighten around her as if reassuring her that he was there.

“He gets violent, violent towards me, my mom, and my older brother. There is constantly screaming and crying and…and pain in that house. After a while, my mom stopped fighting back. She even stopped trying to stop him when he raised his hands at me and Elias. The only reason I still go back is because of Anubis, our dog, and Elias. Elias of course also has his moments, but he protects me. He’s my brother and when he left for college I had no idea how I was supposed to survive there. He comes back pretty often for me, but he only makes it worse these days. He has always fought back.” Tears began to well in her eyes. She hated thinking about this the most. 

She could feel Archer’s eyes. She knew he was going to pity her and she hated that. 

“Natalia,” he murmured, his voice heavy with sorrow. 

The way he said her name, instead of making her feel disgusted with herself, it comforted her. She had come to need that voice. It was a voice that soothed her even when she felt like garbage. She had never felt this comfort before. Not from anyone she’d known. Her body slumped further into his chest. Her undesirable vulnerability was diminishing with his very existence. She didn’t know what she felt. All she knew was that she wanted it more than anything. She never wanted it to go away. 

His arms closed around her, engulfing her in a tight embrace. Her head pressed against his chest and she couldn’t hold it in anymore. 

“I’m so tired,” she wept, her voice choking up. “I can’t do this anymore.” 

“You don’t have to, not anymore.” He kissed the top of her head. “You have me now, Natalia. I won’t let anything happen to you anymore.” 

“How? You say that like it’s easy.” 

“Come live with me. Bring Anubis too. You won’t ever have to go back there,” Archer said, his voice cracking too.

“Why? Why would you do that for me?” Natalia asked, looking up at him. 

“Because I love you, Natalia.” He smiled as he wiped away her tears with his thumb. His own tears trickled down his cheek. “I love you so much.” 

Natalia couldn’t speak. The words didn’t form in her mouth. He loved her and she knew that she loved him too. 

“I love you too,” she whispered, throwing her arms around the man she loved. Archer taught her how to love and she would forever be grateful to him for that. 

She hugged for what felt like hours, not ready to let go of her future. 

“Nat, I want to give you something.” He let go of her and stepped off the truck bed going to the front door. He opened it and she watched him reach into the car. 

She wiped her tears, waiting for him to come back. She finally looked at the sky, the reason they were there. The sky was riddled with shades of pink and purple. She was so enraptured with the colors, that she hadn’t realized when Archer had sat down next to her. 

“Isn’t it fascinating?” He said and she turned her head to look at him. He wasn’t looking at the sunrise, he was looking at her with a doting smile spread across his face. 

He reached into the pocket of his black cargo pants, pulling out a small box. She couldn’t help but feel intrigued. 

“I saw this a few weeks ago. I had to buy it.” He opened the box and inside was a necklace. She stared at it for a few minutes, not believing what she saw. 

“It’s an Ankh,” she gasped. 

“It reminded me of the day I finally got the courage to talk to you. You always sat there rereading the story of Isis and Osiris. I was captivated by you, but I was too scared to approach you. But, boy am I glad that I did.” He took the necklace from the box and moved her hair to the side so he could clasp it around her neck. “If I didn’t, I wouldn’t know what true love felt like.” He kissed her cheek, taking the new tears she had shed with him. 

He didn’t know just how much he had helped her. She could never express how much she owed him. Because in every way it mattered, he had given her life.