Letting You Go in Alaska

Chapter 2: Unmoored

Elara's Pov

"Alaska... I'm here."

The words come out softer than I expect, but the feeling behind them isn't. It sits warm in my chest, steady and real, like something I've been waiting to say without realizing it.

The air is different the moment I step out of the airport—colder, yes, but not just cold. It feels cleaner, like it hasn't been sitting still for too long. I take a deeper breath without thinking, my shoulders loosening as it settles in, and I find myself smiling for no reason other than... this feels new.

Then I say it again, louder this time, the excitement slipping through before I can hold it back.

"Alaska, I'm here!"

"Finally!" Sophie cheers, grabbing my arm and bouncing once like she's been holding that in since the plane landed.

Hannah laughs, clapping lightly. "We actually made it."

Laine rolls her shoulders, glancing around with a calmer kind of curiosity. "It's colder than I expected."

"It's perfect," I say, already turning slightly, taking in everything—the light, the space, the way the air feels against my skin.

And it is. Not just the cold, not just the place. Everything.

For a moment, I just stand there with them, letting my eyes wander. The sky feels wider. The air moves differently. Even the silence feels clearer, like it's not crowded with anything unnecessary.

"I want to walk already," I admit, half to myself.

Sophie immediately lights up. "Right? Same! We should just—like—go. No plans. Just walk."

Laine gives her a look. "After I sleep."

I laugh under my breath.

And then—someone passes by.

I don't think much of it at first. Just another traveler moving past us with quiet steps. But something about the way he moves catches my attention, enough to make me glance to the side.

Hoodie. Headphones. Face mask.

The same one from the plane.

"Wait, guys!" Sophie tightens her hold on my arm. "That's the guy sitting next to me a while ago!"

I follow her gaze properly this time.

It is him.

He walks past without stopping, without looking our way, like we're just part of everything else around him.

Which... we probably are.

Sophie pouts, crossing her arms. "But he didn't even talk to me. Not even once! I didn't even hear him talk at all... well, except when the flight attendant talked to him."

"You wanted him to just... start talking?" I ask, amused.

"Yes," she says immediately.

Hannah chuckles and pats her head. "There, there. You'll get your time to shine."

Sophie sighs, but leans into the touch for a second before straightening, clearly not that bothered—just a little disappointed.

Laine and I exchange a look, and I can't help the small laugh that slips out.

"Alright, alright," I say, lightly brushing Sophie's sleeve to pull her back. "That's enough." I take a small step forward, turning toward the open space ahead. "Who's ready to start the day?"

There's a brief pause before Laine raises her hand, completely serious. "Yeah. I would like to start my day with rest, thank you very much."

"You're unbelievable," Sophie mutters.

"I'm realistic," Laine replies.

I blink, then laugh properly this time. "That's fair."

Sophie groans. "Already?"

"We just got off a twenty-six hour flight," Laine says. "Let me breathe."

Hannah nods, stretching. "I'm with her."

I glance between them, the energy settling into something calmer, then nod. "Okay. Inn first."

That sounds right. There's no rush. There never was.

The car ride from the airport to Willow is quieter than I expect—not silent, just calmer. Sophie still talks, but slower now, her words spaced out. Hannah responds here and there, her voice easy. Laine leans against the window, watching everything pass by.

I do the same, but I can't stay still for long. My gaze keeps shifting—from the road, to the trees, to the way snow lines the edges of everything.

It feels... open.

Like nothing's in a hurry.

I lean forward slightly, trying to catch more of the view.

"This looks unreal," I say quietly.

Hannah hums. "It kind of does."

Sophie glances out too. "Imagine this covered in more snow."

"I don't think I need to imagine," I say. "We're literally here."

She grins. "Right."

It all feels wider than back home. Less crowded. Less rushed.

It just... is.

I like that.

By the time we arrive, the sun sits lower in the sky, casting a soft, warm light over everything. The inn comes into view—wooden, grounded, like it belongs here without needing to stand out.

"A shared cabin?" Sophie is already halfway out of the car before it fully stops. "This is going to be fun!"

Hannah follows, stretching as her breath turns visible in the cold. "I want to see the surroundings."

"I need a bathroom," Laine says, already heading inside.

I step out last, pulling my jacket closer as the cold brushes against my face again—sharper this time, but still... nice.

Sophie walks backward a few steps, pointing around. "We're going to look around first, okay?"

"Don't get lost," I say.

"We won't," Hannah replies.

They're already walking off before I can add anything else. Laine disappears inside, and just like that, it's quiet.

I stay there for a second longer than I need to, just looking.

The cabin.

The trees.

The open space.

It feels like there's more to see than I can take in all at once.

Right.

Reservation.

I head inside, warmth settling over me immediately—not overwhelming, just enough to ease the cold out of my hands. The place is simple, clean, comfortable. I walk to the reception desk, pulling out our reservation receipt and smoothing it between my fingers before handing it over.

"Hi. Reservation under Silva."

The receptionist nods, checking the details. While he does, I shift slightly—and that's when I notice someone standing next to me.

Close enough.

Quiet enough that I didn't hear him arrive.

I glance over.

Hoodie. Headphones. Face mask.

The same one.

"Oh—" The word slips out before I can stop it. I straighten slightly. "You're here too."

He looks at me—not fully, just enough—then nods. Simple. Quiet.

And for some reason, I smile.

Maybe because it feels like a small coincidence. Or maybe because he doesn't seem like the type to invite conversation... and yet, here I am starting one anyway.

"Elara. Elara Silva," I say, turning toward him more fully and extending my hand.

There's a brief pause before he takes it. His hand is warm, steady—grounded.

He lowers his mask just enough to speak. "Hale. Hale Flores. Nice to meet you."

His voice is low, calm, the kind that doesn't rush.

For a moment, I find myself looking at him—not staring, just... noticing. It's the first time I've seen his face clearly, and it catches me off guard just enough to pause.

I wonder briefly what he's like when he actually talks more.

Then I smile again, softer this time. "Nice to meet you too."

It's a simple exchange. Nothing unusual. Nothing that should matter.

But something about it lingers a little longer than it should.

*****

Hale's Pov

I set my bag down by the foot of the bed and unzip it slowly, the sound softer than it should be in a room this quiet. The cabin feels warmer than outside, still and settled, like it doesn't expect anything from me. I take out my clothes one by one, folding what needs to be folded, hanging what needs to be hung. It's simple work—repetitive, predictable. Easy.

My phone rests on the table beside me, still on airplane mode. I look at it longer than I need to.

"Just a switch," I mutter under my breath.

Then I reach over and turn it off.

The screen lights up—and then it doesn't stop.

Notifications stack on top of each other. Messages. Calls. Names I already know before I open anything.

Mom. Dad. Sister. Grandma.

I let out a quiet breath. "Yeah... figures."

I don't open them immediately. I already know what they'll say. Still, I tap one. Then another. The words blur together after a while—accusations, questions that aren't really questions, sentences that land heavier than they should.

"What are you doing?!" "You think this is okay?!" "You're just running away!" "This is selfish!" "Stop acting like a child!" "You're wasting your time!" "You're wasting our money!"

I let the phone fall onto the bed beside me and lie back, one arm draped over my eyes. I breathe out slowly.

"I'm not running," I say quietly, like answering someone who isn't here. "I just... needed space."

The tightness doesn't leave. It never really does.

They didn't ask. Not once. Not if I'm okay. Not if I made it here safely. Not if I needed this.

Just... what I'm doing wrong.

I press my arm harder against my eyes as if that could push the noise away. It doesn't. The silence in the room only makes the words clearer.

"Even just one 'are you okay' would've been enough," I whisper, the words slipping out before I can stop them.

A vibration cuts through it—one more message. I almost ignore it.

Almost.

Then I reach for the phone again.

My brother.

"Be careful. Enjoy your vacation."

That's it. No questions. No judgment. No assumptions. Just... that.

"...yeah," I breathe out, something in my chest loosening just a little. "You always get it."

Not enough to fix anything, but enough to let me breathe properly for the first time since I landed. A faint smile forms before I can stop it. A tear slips past; I wipe it away with the back of my hand and type a reply.

"I will."

I stare at it for a second, then add another line.

"Don't worry."

I hesitate.

Then erase it.

"I will."

Simple. Enough.

I send it and turn the phone off.

This time, the silence feels different.

I sit up and run a hand through my hair, then stand. The room suddenly feels too small, like it's holding everything I don't want to carry right now.

"So don't stay," I tell myself.

I grab a towel and head to the bathroom.

The hot water comes down steady, immediate. I close my eyes and let it run over me, letting the heat sink into my shoulders, into the back of my neck, into the parts that have been tight for too long.

For a few minutes, there's nothing else.

No voices.

No expectations.

No weight.

Just the sound of water and the feeling of it.

"...this is enough," I murmur.

When I step out, I take my time drying off, then change into something more comfortable. Lighter. Something that feels like it belongs here, even if I'm not sure I do yet.

I reach into my pocket out of habit and feel the small metal edge between my fingers. The sunflower keychain. Bright against everything else.

Out of place. Or maybe just... different.

I turn it once, watching how it catches the light, then close my hand around it.

"No use thinking about everything right now," I murmur, the words steadier this time. "I should spend this break the way I wanted... right?"

The question lingers for a second.

Then I nod to myself.

"Right."

I slip it back into my pocket, grab my coat, and take the folded map from the table without really looking at it. When I step outside, the cold meets me immediately—sharper than before—but it doesn't feel unwelcome.

I start walking without a destination. The ground crunches lightly beneath my steps, the sound consistent, grounding. The air feels clearer here, like it doesn't carry anything unnecessary with it.

"Feels lighter," I say under my breath.

I pass by a few people—some talking, some laughing, some just existing—and for a moment, I let myself watch without thinking too much about it.

Movement catches my attention.

Two girls run past, light and unbothered, their laughter carrying just enough to reach me. They move like nothing is waiting for them, like there's nothing they need to prove.

I find myself watching them a second longer than I should.

"...must be nice," I murmur, a faint smile forming without asking permission.

Then I keep walking.

Until one of them collides with me.

It happens fast, but my hand moves before I think, catching her arm to steady her. She freezes, eyes widening, cheeks flushing red from the sudden contact.

"Are you hurt?" I ask, my voice calm.

She shakes her head quickly. "N-no, I'm okay—sorry—"

"Be careful," I say, letting go once she's steady. "It's slippery."

Footsteps rush closer. "Hannah! Are you okay?!"

I glance up and recognize her immediately—the girl from the plane. The one who sat beside me.

What a coincidence.

"Oh—it's you!" she says, surprised.

I nod, a small smile following. "Hey. You're the one sitting next to me, right?" I pause, then add, "What a coincidence."

"My name is Hale."

The other girl brightens and steps forward, offering her hand without hesitation. "I'm Sophie! And this is my friend Hannah. Nice to meet you!"

Hannah bows her head slightly, still a little flustered but smiling. "I'm Hannah. Nice to meet you."

I return the gesture with a small nod. "Nice to meet you too."

Sophie grins. "See? He talks."

I let out a quiet breath that almost turns into a chuckle. "Sometimes."

Hannah laughs softly, the tension easing from her shoulders. "Thank you for catching me."

"You're welcome," I reply. "Just... take it slow."

There's a brief pause—comfortable enough not to feel awkward, short enough not to linger.

"I'll see you around," Sophie says, already half-turning back to wherever they came from.

"Yeah," I nod. "Take care."

I step back, then turn and continue walking, not looking back.

The path ahead stretches quietly. I follow it without thinking about where it leads, just letting my steps carry me forward. After a while, the ground slopes gently upward, and I find myself at the edge of a small frozen hill. The horizon opens up in front of me—wide, steady, untouched.

I stop there and let the view settle in. The cold bites a little more at this height, but the air feels even clearer, like there's nothing between me and the sky.

I close my eyes.

"I wish I could be free like this every day," I say under my breath.

The words linger a second longer this time.

"...even if it's just for a while."

The wind carries them away anyway.

I know it isn't real—not something I can keep. Just a moment. Just this.

Still, I stay.

I let the cold sink in, let the quiet stretch a little longer, let myself stand here without thinking about what comes after.

"Just today," I murmur. "That's enough."

Then I open my eyes again.

The horizon hasn't changed, and neither has everything waiting for me. But right now, I don't have to go back to it yet.

I take a slow breath, steadying it.

And allow myself to exist here—just for a while.

*****

End of Chapter 2