She watched the back of Alex retreat into shadows as heavy words hung heavy in the air. The night closed in upon her, heavy with unsaid emotions and chill of autumn. She squeezed the notebook tightly-the worn cover of which was some kind of lifeline to all that gave her resolution.
Damn it," she muttered under her breath, kicking out at a loose pebble lying on the ground. It rattled across the pavement, off the empty street, clattering to a stop far too far away from her in comfort. The ready rise of her feet rooted her to the spot.
The echoes of their laughter still lingered in her mind, the way they had spun dreams and whispered secrets under this very streetlamp when the future seemed so bright and uncomplicated. It was the ghost of their past, come to make her stop.
What am I doing?" she exclaimed, and at that, irritation began to well up again as she gazed down the empty road in front of her. Asphalt that disappeared into a kind of endlessness, much like her thoughts.
With a deep breath, she forced herself back into the present. Turning back to her notebook, flipping it open once again to a full page of whirling sketches of places she wanted to go-vibrant cities teeming with life, wild landscapes virgin from time''s touch, sprawling across those pages like an uncharted map promising her escape.
Maybe he''s right," she conceded quietly, though it was a near-admission of defeat. "But I just can''t stay here. Not any longer."
A light flashed up the street-headlights that knifed through the darkened air as an automobile approached. Lucy squinted against its glare until the car slowed down beside her, then the window cranked open slowly to show her Ryan''s lean face, with his eyes in reflection of neon lights of shop signs around him.
"Hey! You still here?" he called, his face lit with a genuinely surprised light. "Thought you be halfway across the country by now."
"Just enjoying the scenery," she said with a half-hearted smile, hugging her notebook closer to her chest.
Ryan raised an eyebrow and leaned over the passenger seat, resting his chin on his hand. “You’re not leaving without saying goodbye to your favorite bird,” he said, a playful tone in his voice.
She chuckled softly at that—a welcome distraction from the tension that lingered between her and Alex. “I was actually just thinking.”
About what? World domination? A new hairdo?" He smiled, attempting to get an honest smile from her.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.
She shook her head, focusing on her notebook. "More like life choices. Where I go from here."
Ryan''s smile fell as he examined closely the expression on her face. There was concern etched into his features. "You look like you just saw a ghost, Luce."
"Something like that," she replied, barely above a whisper.
Get in," he said shortly, a new, determined note coming into his voice. "Let''s go get some coffee or something. My treat."
"I really shouldn''t," Lucy said again, and, pressed, shifted. To be alone with her thoughts just now was unendurable.
"Nope! No arguing tonight." He leaned back into his seat with exaggerated confidence, patting the passenger seat invitingly. "Just get in. Let''s talk about it.
She cast a last glance down the darkened street to where Alex had disappeared, then turned toward Ryan''s car. Her heart raced in a mix of uncertainty and anticipation as she opened the door and climbed inside; the warmth of the car enveloped her like a comforting embrace.
Ryan turned the radio down as they drove through the dimly lit streets, the rhythmic hum of the engine filling the silence. Lucy stared out at the passing scenery, her thoughts a tangled mess.
“You really think you’re just going up and leaving?" Ryan broke the silence, his tone light but probing.
“I don’t know,” she admitted, glancing at him. “I just can’t stay here. Everything feels. stuck.”
Stuck? You mean like that time we got caught in that awful traffic jam on the way to that concert?"
A small laugh escaped her lips. "Exactly! Except this time, I''m behind the wheel and ready to change lanes."
He nodded, eyes on the road. "Change lanes, huh? Sounds dramatic.
"It is!" She waved her notebook in front of him, frustration creeping in again. "I have plans, dreams. things I want to do. But here? It''s like quicksand."
Ryan pulled into the parking lot of a small café where dim lights spilled warmth onto the asphalt. "Then let''s get you some coffee and talk it out," he said, throwing the car into the park.
Lucy hesitated before stepping out into the cool night air. The smell of roasted beans wafted toward them as they entered, a cozy atmosphere wrapping around her like a familiar blanket.
"Your usual?" Ryan asked, heading toward the counter.
"Yeah," she replied absentmindedly while scanning the walls adorned with local art-vibrant splashes of colour that reminded her of everything she was craving beyond those city limits.
Two black coffees!" Ryan yelled over his shoulder before turning back to her with one eyebrow raised. "So, what''s holding you behind?
"Alex," she replied flatly, and felt a pang in her chest with the mention of his name.
"Ah." Ryan leaned on the counter as they awaited their drinks. "You can''t let him keep you anchored here.
I know," she breathed, pushing a hand through her hair. "It''s just not quite that simple, though."
"Nothing ever is." He retrieved their coffees and moved to an empty, quiet table along the window. The steam curled and billowed, creeping between them as if it would snuffle out secrets being discussed and even those withheld.
Lucy wrapped both palms around the warm ceramic mug. "What if someday I wished I did end it?
Ryan shrugged slightly as he leaned back in his chair. "You''ll never know unless you try."
Her gaze flickered out to the street-life thrumming just beyond their little bubble-and for once, she felt an ember of possibility ignite within her chest.