Whisper In A Moonlit Night

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''AUSTIN!!" His mother's panicked voice snapped him back to reality. He turned just in time to see her rushing across the street, her face pale and eyes wide with fear. She grabbed his arm, pulling him closer as she gasped, "Oh my God! Are you alright, son?"

"Yeah... Yeah, I'm fine, Mom," Austin replied, his voice still shaky as he looked back at the spot where Bella had been standing.

But she was gone.

His heart raced, trying to make sense of it all. Was it just his imagination? Or had she really been there? The memory of her smile haunted him, as real as the warmth of the sun on his skin.

"Thanks to her," Austin mumbled under his breath.

"Who?" His mother asked, her brow furrowed in confusion. "Who are you talking about?"

"The girl... Bella... She was right here," he said, pointing to the spot where she had stood just moments ago.

His mother's expression grew even more concerned. "Austin, honey, there was no one else here. I saw the whole thing... It was just you in the middle of the road."

"What?" Austin's voice trembled, and he shook his head in disbelief. "No, she was here. She pulled me back. I swear."

His mother sighed and cupped his face gently, searching his eyes. "I think the shock of everything is getting to you. You're seeing things because you're still grieving. Let's get you home, okay? You need rest."

Austin blinked, still unsure of what he had seen, but the weight of everything was overwhelming. He felt numb, his legs weak beneath him.

"Yeah... Maybe you're right," he said quietly, glancing back one last time, hoping to catch another glimpse of her.

But there was nothing.

His mother wrapped an arm around his shoulders and guided him to the car. "Come on, sweetheart. Let's get you home. We'll figure all of this out later."

Austin nodded absently, still replaying the moment in his mind as they drove off. Could it really have been his imagination? Or had Bella really been there, pulling him back from the brink?

Austin didn't say anything else. He quietly got into the car with his mom, the weight of the day pressing heavily on his mind. As they drove off, he couldn't help but look back one last time, his eyes searching for her, hoping to see Bella again. But the street was empty. There was no one there.

The whole encounter felt surreal. His heart pounded as questions swirled in his head, but he was too tired to make sense of it. It had been a long and draining day, and he needed rest-his mind was exhausted, his body heavy with fatigue.

When they arrived home, he moved mechanically. Austin barely registered his mom's worried glances as he headed straight to his room. He closed the door, letting the quiet settle around him like a blanket. He kicked off his shoes, changed into something more comfortable, and slipped under the covers.

The moment his head hit the pillow, his thoughts drifted back to the road, to Bella's smile. Was she really there? Or was it just his grief messing with his head?

Unable to answer the questions racing through his mind, he sighed deeply, sinking into the softness of his bed.

As soon as Austin lay down and closed his eyes, he heard it-soft, melodic laughter. A girl's laughter. His heart skipped a beat, and he sat up at once, his breath catching in his throat.

His eyes darted around the room, and to his utter shock, there she was-Belle, sitting casually on the edge of his bed, smiling at him as if nothing had changed. Her long black hair fell over her shoulders, and her eyes sparkled with the same warmth and mischief they always had.