The Irregular Heartbeat

Chapter 08

Chapter 08: Conflicted Echoes

     Libertia's heart pounded as she watched Levi leave the cafeteria. The unexpected compliment lingered in her mind, intertwining with the chaos Wade had stirred earlier. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her heart.

     'Thylane,' she thought. It felt strange using a name that had never been spoken aloud. She wasn't sure why she had given it to Levi, but something about him felt different, intriguing yet unsettling.

     Memories of Wade's flirty remarks and gentle touches resurfaced, contrasting Levi's direct and unfiltered approach. It was as if Wade danced around her feelings while Levi challenged them head-on.

     Libertia sighed deeply, her fingers tapping the table as she tried to sort through her thoughts.

     Her phone buzzed, snapping her back to reality. It was a message from Eteremy: 'Hey, just checking you out. I had an emergency. Can't come. Sorry, Tia. :( I'll make up for you soon!'

     She typed a quick reply, her fingers trembling slightly. "It's fine. I'll see you soon, Ether!"

     Leaning back in her chair, Libertia glanced out the window, watching the leaves rustle in the wind. Her mind wandered back to the way Levi had looked at her, his eyes sincere and his words leaving an imprint on her heart. 'What did he mean by all that?'

     She remembered the warmth of his hand on hers, the intensity of his gaze. It was so different from Wade's comforting presence.

     Levi was a storm, unpredictable and stirring something deep within her.

     Libertia shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. She needed to focus and find some clarity amidst the confusion. But every time she tried, her mind drifted back to the moments with Wade and Levi, each encounter leaving her more bewildered.

     The cafeteria emptied as the lunch rush ended. Libertia stared at the empty chairs and tables, the laughter and chatter replaced by silence. She poked at her half-eaten sandwich, her appetite gone. She missed the simplicity of her life before all these complicated feelings emerged. 'Why does everything have to be so confusing?'

     Taking a deep breath, she stood up and wandered around the hospital grounds. The crisp air brushed against her face, and she hoped it might sweep away the fog clouding her thoughts. With each step, she hoped the rhythmic sound of her crocs on the tiles might bring some clarity, trying to untangle the knots in her heart and understand what she truly wanted.

     As she walked through the corridors, the echoes of Wade and Levi's words swirled around her, a haunting melody she couldn't escape. Her footsteps grew slower, and heavier until she found herself in the hospital garden. The vibrant flowers and lush greenery surrounded her, their beauty offering a brief, yet welcome, reprieve from her troubled thoughts.

      She needs to figure this out. She can't keep bouncing between these emotions.

     In the peaceful garden, Libertia closed her eyes and took a deep breath, the soft breeze caressing her skin. Her chest rose and fell rhythmically, each breath a small step toward calm. She traced the veins of a leaf with her fingers, grounding herself in the present. The path ahead was unclear, but she was determined to find her way through the maze of her heart.

     As the tranquility of the garden soothed her, Libertia felt a spark of resolve igniting within. The gentle rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of birds faded into the background as she stood up, ready to confront her tangled emotions. With each step back to the hospital, she felt a mix of determination and anxiety. She needed the quiet of her room to resolve the thoughts that swirled in her mind, a sanctuary where she could sort through the chaos of Wade's words and touch and Levi's persistence.