CHAPTER FIVE
925 Words
All my life
I prayed for someone like you
And I thank God
That I
That I finally found you
Elara sings along with K-Ci and JoJo with her hairbrush in her hand when her phone buzzes; it's Noah. He had sent a text telling her he was downstairs. They were going on another date.
“Hey” Noah said as she opened the car door
Hey” she said as she kissed him
“How are you doing” he asks
“I am good” she replies
“You ready?”
She looks at him with a smile that’s filled with love,
“Always”
“ So where are we going “ she asks overly excited
“ You will find out”
The car stops at the amusement park. People filled the place like scattered stars. Excitement settles between them, nervous and bright.
They step out together. The air is filled with music, laughter, and the metallic clatter of motion rides. She stops to take in the scenery. They hold hands and walk into the park.
Inside, her eyes move everywhere at once. She tried everything she could. At the haunted house, he held her hand so tight that she didn’t flinch for most of the horrors. He watched her more than the rides, noticing how her smile kept appearing and disappearing, as if she were trying to stay calm and failing beautifully.
At the Roller coaster, she feigns confidence and fails when the ride begins. She screamed so loud that she gripped his hand so tightly that he was sure her nails would injure him. When the ride ends, they stagger off laughing too loudly, relief mixing with adrenaline. He teased her about her screaming and pretended confidence.
They head towards the game stalls. She chooses the archery game already planning where she’ll keep the prize if he wins. He misses once, jaw tightening, then tries again this time focused, determined to win the prize for her
When he wins, her surprise is genuine, and her laugh rings out above the noise. He hands her the teddy without hesitation, like it was always meant for her.
They share cotton candy, ice cream, drinks, and laughs. She steals more than her share. He lets her. Sugar sweetens the air, but something softer lingers underneath comfort, ease, the quiet joy of being chosen in small ways.
As the day slowly goes by, they take pictures at the Photo Booth and then head out of the park. The drive back home was filled with laughter and jokes.
In front of her house, the noise fades. The silence isn’t awkward, just comfortable. Their hands rest close, then closer, until there’s no space left to wonder.
“Thanks for today. The last time I did this was with my dad”
“You are welcome. I love you Lara” Noah says
She saw the sudden shift that he masked immediately but thought nothing of it. Instead she replied
“I love you too, Noah”
As the wheel turned slowly away from her house, she worried for him. She knew he wasn’t fine but knew he wouldn’t answer even if she asked so she made a decision standing outside her house to protect him and make him happy.
But then the cracks began. They were quiet, oblivious, and scary. They hadn’t gotten into a fight but he hardly picked up her calls. Missed out on dates and school. He just wasn’t available.
Noah checked his phone more often, his jaw tightening at messages he didn’t explain. He grew distant when conversations drifted toward the future, he was excited. His answers became shorter.
“You okay?” Elara asked one afternoon.
“Yeah,” he said too fast. “Just busy.”
Busy became his major excuse for missed plans. For distracted kisses. For silences that lingered too long.
Today, she found him sitting alone in the school garden, his hands were sweaty. He looked so tense. He held onto the garden bench like it was the only thing keeping him steady.
“Noah?” she asked softly.
He looked up, startled. “Hey.”
“What are you doing here? I thought you had gone home”
“I needed to think.”
Her chest tightened. “About what?”
“Stuff.”
She sighed as she sat down beside him. “You don’t talk to me anymore.”
“That’s not true.”
“It is.”
Frustrated, he ran a hand through his hair . “I’m trying to protect you.”
“From what?”
He didn’t answer.
Then with a different level of seriousness that she had never seen in him, He looked at her, held her hands, and said,” Everything I am doing is for your sake, Lara. I love you and I sincerely want to be with you. I want you to trust me. Trust that I would never do anything to hurt you.”
“What are you talking about “ she asked in confusion
But he stayed quiet. Instead, he dropped her hands, bent his head, and stayed still.
That silence frightened her more than any argument could have.
Later, lying awake in her bed, Elara stared at the ceiling, replaying every moment, every shift. This has been going on for a while now. She had noticed. Something was wrong. Something she couldn’t fix.
Yet she still believed him.
She still loved him.
She didn’t know yet that these were the final quiet moments before everything shattered.
- Writer
