WAITING FOR ETHAN

Nineteen-year-old Ethan Carter sat at the kitchen table staring at a stack of unpaid bills. His mother washed dishes at the sink while humming softly. "Ethan," she said gently, "you haven't touched your breakfast. I’m not hungry. "You need to eat. He forced a smile."I'll eat later." The truth was that he wasn't thinking about food. He was thinking about Olivia Hamilton. The richest girl in town. The girl he had loved since they were children. The girl he could never have. A loud knock sounded on the front door. His mother smiled. "That must be her ."Ethan's heart immediately started racing. He stood quickly and opened the door. There she was,Olivia Hamilton. Her long brown hair moved softly in the morning breeze. Her bright blue eyes sparkled with life. She wore a simple white dress, yet somehow looked more beautiful than anyone Ethan had ever seen. "Good morning," she said with a smile. Ethan forgot how to breathe. "Morning." Olivia laughed. "Are you going to let me in or make me stand outside all day?" He stepped aside. "Sorry." She entered the house. Mrs. Carter hugged her warmly. "Olivia, dear, you look lovely." "Thank you, Mrs. Carter." Unlike many rich people in town, Olivia never acted superior.She treated everyone with kindness.Especially Ethan.The three sat together.Olivia reached into her purse and pulled out an envelope. "I got accepted." Ethan blinked. "Accepted where?"New York University. Mrs. Carter gasped."Oh my goodness!" Olivia smiled."I leave in three months." Ethan felt something sink inside him. Three months,Only three months. His smile faded slightly. "That's great." "You don't sound excited.Mrs. Carter quietly stood. "I'll leave you two alone." As soon as she disappeared into another room, Olivia folded her arms. Tell me what's wrong. "Nothing." "Ethan." He sighed."You're leaving." She softened. I'll come back. People change.I won't.He looked away."Easy for you to say."Silence filled the room. Finally she spoke. "Walk with me." They left the house and headed toward the lake they had visited since childhood. The water sparkled beneath the morning sun. Olivia sat on the old wooden dock. Ethan sat beside her. For several moments neither spoke. Then Olivia finally broke the silence. "Do you remember when we were twelve?""The fishing contest? "She laughed. "You cheated." "I did not." You used worms from my bucket. They were community worms. She burst into laughter. The sound made Ethan smile. For a moment everything felt perfect. Then reality returned. "Ethan?" "Yeah?" "Can I ask you something?" Sure." "Why do you keep pushing me away lately?" His heart tightened. Because loving you hurts. Because every day I remember I can never be enough. Olivia, your family would never accept me. But he couldn't say those words. His imaginations did. he shrugged. "I'm not pushing you away."She stared at him. "You're a terrible liar." Before he could answer, a black luxury car pulled up nearby. Ethan's smile disappeared instantly.Olivia's expression changed too. The driver's door opened. A tall young man stepped out, dressed in an expensive suit, with perfect hair. Olivia already knew who it was. Daniel Sterling. The son of one of the wealthiest families in the state. Ethan immediately felt anger. Daniel walked toward them. "Olivia."She stood. "Daniel." He kissed her hand. Ethan clenched his jaw. Daniel finally looked at him. "Oh." The single word carried enough arrogance to fill the entire lake. The tension was immediate.Olivia sighed. "What are you doing here?" Our parents arranged lunch."He said "I forgot." Your father doesn't seem pleased. When is he ever pleased? Daniel laughed. Then his eyes returned to Ethan. "Mind if I borrow her?" Before Ethan could respond, Olivia spoke."I'm not a bicycle." Daniel raised both hands. "My mistake." She turned back to Ethan. "I'll see you later?"He forced a smile. As she left, she glanced back. Their eyes met, for a brief moment neither looked away. Then she entered Daniel's car. The vehicle disappeared down the road.Ethan remained on the dock, Watching, Waiting,Hurting. A voice suddenly came from behind. "You love her." Ethan turned. It was his best friend, Jake Turner.Jake sat beside him. "I've loved her for years." So tell her Ethan laughed bitterly. "And then what?"You'll know."I already know." said Ethan Jake frowned. "No." Ethan pointed toward the road.Look at her world and look at mine. "That doesn't matter." "It matters to her father." Jake couldn't argue with that.Everyone knew Robert Hamilton, powerful, rich,demanding. The kind of man who believed money solved every problem. And Robert Hamilton already had plans for Olivia,plans involving Daniel Sterling. Not Ethan Carter. That evening, Olivia returned. Ethan sat on his porch watching the sunset, he walked up the steps quietly. "Mind if I sit?" "You never ask permission." She smiled and sat beside him. For several minutes they watched the orange sky.Then she spoke softly, dad wanted me to spend more time with Daniel.Ethan's stomach tightened. "Oh." "That's all?" "What am I supposed to say?"She looked at him. "I don't know." The silence returned, a painful silence.The kind neither knew how to break, finally Olivia whispered, "Do you ever think about the future?" Sometimes. What do you see?" He laughed. "Honestly?" Yeah, a tiny apartment. She smiled."What else?" "A job." "What else?" Ethan looked at her.For one dangerous moment he almost told her. You, I see you, every future I imagine has you in it. But fear stopped him. "Nothing else." Disappointment flashed across her face, she looked away. The moment was gone. Later that night Olivia lay awake in her bedroom, her family's mansion overlooked most of Willow Creek, yet despite the luxury surrounding her, she felt trapped.A knock sounded. "Come in." Her father entered.Robert Hamilton. A very serious looking man,tall and looked powerful "How was your day?" Fine. You saw Ethan, she looked up sharply."Yes."Robert sighed. "Olivia." "Dad." "He is a good boy." But? "He has no future." Anger flashed through her. "You don't know that." I know reality. He said in a deep but reluctant voice. She stood. You always talk about money. "Because money matters." "No." Olivia said in an angry but low tune. "It does."He walked toward the window. "When I was young, I was poor." She folded her arms. "I know." I built everything we have, and now you think money decides who deserves happiness. His expression hardened. Olvia, you are being childish. "No, you're being controlling." The room became silent. Finally Robert spoke.You and Daniel will be married someday. Olivia felt like the floor disappeared beneath her."What?" "You've known this." "I thought it was a possibility." "It is more than that." Her eyes widened. "Dad." "The Sterling family and our family have discussed this for years." "You can't decide who I marry."He looked at her calmly. I can advise you.That's not advice. Olivia—" "No." Tears formed in her eyes. "No."She rushed from the room.Robert watched her leave, for the first time, doubt appeared in his eyes. Meanwhile, across town, Ethan sat on his bed staring at the ceiling.Sleep refused to come. He kept replaying every moment with Olivia, every smile, every laugh, every look. Suddenly his phone vibrated. A message, from Olivia.Three simple words. Are you awake? Ethan smiled immediately.He replied. Yes. Meet me at the lake.He checked the time, it was 11:47 PM. His heart began racing. Without hesitation he grabbed his jacket and headed out the door. The moon reflected across the water when he arrived, Olivia stood alone on the dock.She looked beautiful beneath the silver light. "Ethan." "What's wrong?" She looked at him. For a moment she seemed ready to say something important, something life-changing.Instead she whispered, "I'm scared." He stepped closer."Of what?" "My future." He stared at her, then softly said,"You don't have to be."She looked into his eyes, and for the first time in years, neither looked away.The distance between them grew smaller. Closer. Closer. Neither spoke. Neither moved. The world seemed to disappear.Then headlights suddenly appeared in the darkness.A car approached, both stepped apart immediately. The moment shattered. And neither realized that inside the approaching vehicle sat Daniel Sterling, watching, observing, and smiling, as if he had found out something dangerous.