Chapter 15 — The Promise
1248 Words
The following morning, Ellie woke with an unfamiliar feeling.
Hope.
For years, she had trained herself not to expect anything from the future.
Hope had once been dangerous.
It had made her wait for Lucas.
It had made her believe every phone call might be from him.
It had made every passing month more painful than the one before.
But now, as she watched Ethan sleep peacefully, hope felt different.
It wasn't about Lucas anymore.
It was about her son.
Her education.
Her parents.
And perhaps, someday, herself.
She quietly packed their belongings.
They would be returning to Mabini Valley that afternoon.
Before leaving the hotel, Ellie checked Ethan's competition trophy for the third time.
"Mom."
She turned.
Ethan stood behind her.
"Are you checking my trophy again?"
"Maybe."
"It's not going anywhere."
"I know."
He grinned.
"You worry too much."
"That's my job."
---
They met Lucas downstairs.
He was holding a small envelope.
"What's that?" Ellie asked.
"Something for Ethan."
Ethan immediately became curious.
Lucas handed him the envelope.
Inside was a photograph from the awards ceremony.
Ethan stood proudly on stage, holding his trophy.
Lucas stood beside him.
Ethan stared at it.
"Can I keep this?"
"Of course."
He smiled.
"I like it."
Ellie looked at the photograph.
For a moment, she saw something she hadn't expected.
A family.
Not a perfect one.
Not yet.
But perhaps a beginning.
Lucas looked at her.
"I'll drive you to the station."
"You don't have to."
"I know."
Ellie hesitated.
"All right."
---
The drive was quiet at first.
Ethan sat in the back, looking through his photograph.
Then he asked,
"Lucas?"
"Yes?"
"Will you visit us?"
Lucas glanced at Ellie through the mirror.
"I'd like to."
Ethan looked at his mother.
"Can he?"
Ellie took a breath.
"If he wants to."
Lucas smiled.
"I want to."
Ethan seemed satisfied.
"Good."
He returned to his photograph.
Lucas looked at Ellie.
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For giving me a chance."
She looked out the window.
"Don't thank me yet."
"Why?"
"Because you haven't earned it."
Lucas laughed softly.
"Fair enough."
---
At the bus terminal, Ethan hugged Lucas before boarding.
"See you soon."
Lucas knelt in front of him.
"Study hard."
"I will."
"And remember—"
"I know."
Ethan smiled.
"Don't be afraid to make mistakes."
Lucas laughed.
"Exactly."
Ethan climbed onto the bus.
Ellie remained beside Lucas.
Neither spoke for several seconds.
Finally, Lucas said,
"I'll call."
Ellie looked at him.
"Don't promise what you can't keep."
"I can keep this one."
She studied him.
Then nodded.
"Okay."
Lucas reached into his pocket and handed her a card.
"My personal number."
She looked at it.
"If you ever need anything."
"I can take care of myself."
"I know."
"Then why give me this?"
"Because taking care of yourself doesn't mean you have to do everything alone."
Ellie stared at the card.
The words touched something inside her.
She put it in her bag.
"Goodbye, Lucas."
"Goodbye, Ellie."
She turned toward the bus.
Then stopped.
She looked back.
"Don't disappear again."
Lucas's expression became serious.
"I won't."
This time, she believed him.
---
The bus pulled away.
Lucas stood watching until it disappeared.
He remained there long after it was gone.
His assistant approached him.
"Sir?"
Lucas turned.
"Yes?"
"Your next meeting is in an hour."
Lucas nodded.
"Cancel it."
"Cancel?"
"I have something more important to do."
"What?"
Lucas looked toward the road.
"I'm going home."
---
Three days later, Ellie and Ethan returned to Mabini Valley.
Their ordinary life resumed.
But something had changed.
Every evening, Lucas called.
At first, the conversations were short.
"How was school?"
"Good."
"Did you eat?"
"Yes."
"How's your mother?"
"I'm fine."
Then gradually, the conversations became longer.
Lucas and Ethan talked about science.
Robots.
Books.
School.
Sometimes Ethan talked for nearly an hour.
Ellie would listen from the kitchen, pretending not to smile.
One evening, Ethan handed her the phone.
"Mom, Lucas wants to talk to you."
Ellie raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"I don't know."
She took the phone.
"Hello?"
"Hi."
"What is it?"
"I wanted to ask how you're doing."
"I'm fine."
"You're always fine."
Ellie laughed.
"Maybe I am."
Lucas smiled on the other end.
"Are you still thinking about school?"
"Yes."
"Good."
"I received the enrollment information."
"That's wonderful."
Ellie hesitated.
"I haven't told my parents yet."
"Why?"
"I'm afraid they'll think I'm being selfish."
Lucas was quiet.
"Ellie, you spent your entire life putting everyone else first."
She didn't answer.
"You deserve something for yourself."
Her eyes became wet.
"You sound different."
"I've had seven years to think."
"About what?"
"You."
Ellie closed her eyes.
"Lucas..."
"I won't pressure you."
"I know."
"But I want you to know something."
"What?"
"I'm proud of you."
Her throat tightened.
"Thank you."
---
Months passed.
Ellie enrolled in college.
For the first time in years, she carried books instead of trays.
She attended classes during the day and returned home in the evening.
It wasn't easy.
There were moments when she felt older than the other students.
Moments when she wondered whether she belonged.
But every time doubt appeared, she remembered Ethan.
And she continued.
Lucas kept his promise.
He called.
He visited.
He never demanded forgiveness.
He simply stayed.
One weekend, he came to Mabini Valley.
Ethan ran toward him the moment he stepped out of the car.
"Lucas!"
Lucas opened his arms.
Ethan jumped into them.
Ellie watched from the porch.
Lucas looked at her over Ethan's shoulder.
"Hello."
She smiled.
"Hello."
For once, the sight of him didn't hurt.
It felt natural.
Almost familiar.
---
That evening, the family sat together for dinner.
Edward asked Lucas about his work.
Margaret asked about his parents.
Ethan talked about a science project.
Ellie listened.
At some point, Margaret looked around the table.
Her eyes met Ellie's.
She smiled.
Ellie understood.
Her mother could see it too.
Something was changing.
After dinner, Lucas helped Edward repair a broken chair.
Ethan sat beside him, asking questions.
Ellie watched from the doorway.
She remembered the night she had first discovered she was pregnant.
The fear.
The loneliness.
The anger.
She remembered thinking she would have to raise her child alone forever.
She had been wrong.
Not because Lucas had returned and magically fixed everything.
But because life had given them another chance.
A chance they were choosing to take slowly.
---
Later that night, Lucas found Ellie sitting on the porch.
"Can't sleep?"
"No."
He sat beside her.
"Me neither."
They looked toward the dark fields.
"I've been thinking," Ellie said.
"About?"
"You."
Lucas smiled.
"That's dangerous."
She laughed softly.
"I was thinking about what you said."
"What did I say?"
"That you want to earn my trust."
"I meant it."
Ellie nodded.
"I know."
She looked at him.
"And I think..."
She stopped.
Lucas waited.
"I think you are."
His expression softened.
"Really?"
"You're trying."
"I am."
"And you're not running."
"I promised."
Ellie smiled.
For the first time in seven years, she allowed herself to reach for his hand.
Lucas looked down at their hands.
Then back at her.
He didn't move too quickly.
He simply held her hand.
They sat quietly beneath the night sky.
Inside the house, Ethan was sleeping peacefully.
For the first time, Ellie wasn't afraid of tomorrow.
She didn't know what would happen next.
But she knew something important.
Lucas was no longer a memory.
He was here.
And this time, he was staying.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD