❀ C O M P L E T E - first draft ✿
3x featured story.
Ambys 2024 Favourite - Romance
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"Want me to let you in on a little secret, Storm Cloud?" He murmurs in a tone of voice that is so much more tender and amorous than usual, his face coming clos...
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R A Y N A
"Let me know if you need anything, okay?"
"I'm sure I'll be fine, really," Blaire rambles from the other end of the phone. "You've got enough on your plate as it is, I wouldn't want—"
"I'm never too busy to help you, alright?" I interrupt her abruptly. "Please, Blaire. I want you to know that you can come for me for anything."
She's silent for a moment, presumably planning her response. "Thank you, Rayna. You're the best," she eventually says.
"Anytime. It's the least I could do after everything you've done for me."
The conversation over the phone between both me and Blaire dies down as I walk through my aunt's lounge and toward her office. After saying my goodbyes to my friend and ending the call, I knock on the door and enter.
"Ah, Rayna, you're here," Aunt Celine remarks as I slide through the doorway. She sits as eloquently as always on her leather office chair, with her glasses sitting against the bridge of her nose. "How is everything going with this new project?"
"It could be better," I admit.
She hums in acknowledgement of my words whilst flicking through a file of some sort that is sitting on her desk. "You will be fine. I'm sure of it."
"I know that, but the theme is—"
"Love? Oh, I know."
My mouth falls agape. "You knew?"
She nods, but her eyes do not move from whatever she is reading. "I knew you wouldn't like it, but it was all we could find. Besides, it was a long time ago now, Rayna. Don't you think it's time to move on?"
I bite my lip. "I know, but it's just... really hard."
My aunt looks up at last and opens her mouth to respond, but her words fall short.
Nobody has seen how much, both mentally and physically, I have suffered at the hands of love like Aunt Celine has. I had once been so vivacious—so fruitful and loving. Love took all of that away from me when it should have been enhancing the positive emotions that I already harboured.
The buzzer to Aunt Celine's apartment rings and cuts through the almost awkward tension that has built up around the room. I send my silent thanks to the person who is at the door as my aunt rises from behind her desk and plods into her lounge.
"It's Flo," she calls from the other room. "She's here to drive you to the photographer's studio."
I stand there bewildered for a moment. Caleb hadn't informed me we're doing a photoshoot today. Surely he would have text or called me if that were the case, wouldn't he?
