Empty Rooms
309 Words
Days passed without Elias.
Then weeks.
The bookstore became quiet again.
Too quiet.
Delilah buried herself in work to avoid thinking about him.
But everything reminded her of Elias.
The café corner.
The poetry shelves.
The scarf he forgot upstairs.
One evening, her best friend Naomi visited the bookstore.
“You look miserable,” Naomi said bluntly.
“I’m fine.”
“You’ve said that four times already.”
Delilah sighed heavily.
“He lied to me.”
Naomi leaned against the counter.
“Did he cheat?”
“No.”
“Did he abuse you?”
“Of course not.”
“Then what exactly did he do?”
Delilah hesitated.
“He didn’t tell me he had once been engaged.”
Naomi blinked.
“That’s it?”
“It’s not just that.”
“It sounds like you’re punishing him for another man’s mistakes.”
The words hit painfully hard.
Because part of Delilah knew Naomi was right.
Later that night, unable to sleep, Delilah opened the bookstore storage room searching for old inventory lists.
Instead, she found a small envelope addressed to her in her grandmother’s handwriting.
Her heart pounded as she opened it.
Inside was a short letter.
Delilah,
If you are reading this, it means life has probably hurt you again. I know how deeply you feel things. But listen carefully, my darling girl.
Love is never perfect.
People carry wounds, histories, and mistakes. The right person is not someone without scars. The right person is someone willing to hold your scars gently.
Do not let fear become your permanent home.
You deserve love that stays.
Grandma Evelyn.
By the time Delilah finished reading, tears blurred the words completely.
For the first time, she realized she had pushed Elias away before giving him the chance to fully explain.
And suddenly, losing him felt unbearable.
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