All that was left : what remains after darkness?

CHAPTER 12

Jonas pov

I dreamt of her.

Her hand in mine, warm and soft, like it had always belonged there. We were walking through a park, sunlight spilling between the trees, golden and gentle, the kind of day that made the world feel like it might actually be safe.

And she smelled... perfect. Vanilla and coconut. Sweet, soft, unforgettable.

She was smiling—really smiling—the kind of smile that reached her eyes and made my chest tighten. I didn't want the moment to end.

Then she vanished.

One blink, and she was gone. The park was empty. I called her name, reached for her, but she had disappeared into nothing.

I woke up with the ache still heavy in my chest. She was really gone... London, Rita, a world I couldn't touch. Yet the memory of her clung to me, warm and sharp.

Sunlight hit my face. I reached for my phone. 11:00 a.m. London time. She was probably awake now, stretching in her room, with Rita nearby. I wanted to call her, but first... I needed to tell Dad.

The garage door was half open. Dad was already there, bent over the hood of a Chevy, tools scattered around.

"Morning," I said.

"Late morning," he replied without looking up.

I crossed the floor, gripping the envelope Rita had left me. "I've made a decision," I said.

Dad finally looked at me, eyebrows raised. "Oh? And what's that?"

"I'm going to apply to that business school in New Orleans," I said. "It's time I finally put my life on track. That money... they gave it to me to make sure I could start over. I'm not wasting it."

He studied me for a long moment, the hard lines on his face softening. "That's a damn good idea, son. A really good one."

I let out a breath, relief settling for a moment, but my thoughts kept drifting back to her. Rita had promised I could visit Zara every two or three months. It wasn't enough...not now...but it was something.

Dad. He probably hadn't eaten yet. Knowing him, he'd been in the garage for hours, completely absorbed in the Chevy.

I headed to the kitchen. Eggs. Pancakes. Bacon. Something simple, something satisfying. He deserved that much at least.

I cracked the eggs into a bowl, whisking them slowly, listening to the soft sizzle as the bacon hit the hot pan. The smell filled the kitchen.. golden edges, sweet pancake batter in the other pan, eggs gently cooking beside it.

Plating everything neatly, I carried it to the garage.

"Food," I said, setting the plates down on the workbench.

Dad looked up briefly, eyebrows raised. "Finally," he muttered.

I leaned against the bench, watching him pick up a fork. The quiet of the garage mixed with the smell of breakfast and engine oil, grounding me.

I took a plate for myself, sitting beside him. For a moment, it was just us, the clatter of forks the only sound.

But even here, my mind wandered to London. To her. To that dream.

Zara.

I should call her.

After they finished eating, I cleared my plate and let Dad go back to tinkering on the Chevy. I headed back to my room, closing the door behind me, and sank onto my bed. My fingers hovered over my phone for a moment before I finally brought it out and opened a new message to her.

Me ~ Hey you

Almost immediately, I saw the typing bubble appear.

Zee ~ Hey

Me ~ Busy?

Zee ~ Went shopping with Maya and Rita, why?

Me ~ Sounds pretty busy, I just wanted to see how you were doing...

Zee ~ I'm... good, can't complain.

Me ~ Call me when you're back home?

Zee ~ Promise.

I set my phone down on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Even just this small conversation made my chest feel lighter. She was okay. That was enough for now.

Then my phone vibrated. I snatched it up so fast my heart nearly jumped out of my chest, and the first thing I saw made it feel like someone had lit a fire in my chest.

Zee ~ I miss you

The words were simple. Short. But they hit me harder than anything else ever could. I stared at the screen, my fingers frozen, my chest tight. I didn't know if I should smile, laugh, or cry. All I knew was... I missed her too. More than I'd realized.

I stared at the screen for a moment, letting the words sink in. My fingers shook slightly as I typed back, almost afraid to break the fragile magic of the moment.

Me ~ I miss you too... so much

I hit send and held the phone close, staring at it like it was the most precious thing in the world. My chest felt full, tight, and warm all at once. She was really out there, alive, and thinking of me too.

And just like that, the ache from the dream didn't feel quite as heavy. Not completely gone, but lighter.