incandescent

prologue

27 december 2024
manhattan, nyc
lorelai sinclair

╰➤ ❝𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐭 𝐦𝐞.❞

☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*･༓ ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾

𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐈 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐕𝐄, I thought that 18 was the magical age. The age where you became free, the age where you were independent, the age where you were able to leave home and breathe. The movies I grew up on glorified 18. Every night, I dreamed of being an adult. I dreamed of moving into a cozy apartment in the city. I fantasized about being a successful CEO, having never-ending money. I prayed and hoped that I would find my soulmate when I restarted my life. Oh, how naive I was. I was right about one thing, though.

I left the small town of Haven Hills and never looked back.

Twelve year old me would be proud that I left. But if she saw me now, moping over a man that was never mine, she would have knocked some sense into me.

The sharp click of the phone snapped me back into reality.

"Hey, Rory. It's Blair. I know you're probably in your bed, eating Talenti and binge-watching Criminal Minds, and I know I'm a shitty friend for saying this but... you need to get over it. It's been weeks. He made up his mind, Rory. He's gone. And I don't want my best friend to be gone, too. So get your ass out of the bed and say goodbye to Reid and Morgan. I gave you space, but I can't let you go down a rabbit hole you can't get out of. Oh, the train's here, gotta go! I'll see you in twenty. Brush your teeth! Love you!" I laughed, and then grimaced at the sight of me.

Juno, my black cat, was scratching at the door, which was blocked because of the pile of dirty clothes. My office space was filled with take-out bags and wine bottles. I turned down my "unofficial-but-official breakup" playlist and silently apologized to my neighbors.

I needed to get my shit together. Never in my life had my room been as messy as this. Except for junior year. I shuddered. Those were very dark times.

"Rory? Rory! My hands are full with junk food, I can't reach my keys! Open the door for your favorite roommate, please and thank you. You will not believe the day I've had-" I opened the door and a heap of clothes fell out. For once, Blair Kingsley was speechless.

"Oh my.... Lorelai Sinclair, you look atrocious."

"Gee, hello to you, too," I scowled. She smiled and kissed my cheek, recoiling suddenly as she took in the sight of my place.

"Oh, Rory..." She sighed, pulling me in for a much needed hug. I couldn't bottle it up anymore. I couldn't just shrug it off and say that I was fine, that all of it meant nothing. I cracked, letting out ugly sobs that I hadn't let out since leaving home.

"I loved him, Blair. And he left. He left like I was worth nothing! He didn't even say goodbye... leave a note... nothing! Didn't I deserve that much?"

"You deserve the universe," Blair sniffled. She was one of those people who cried when others did. "God, I wish he was still here. I've been practicing my axe-throwing skills." I didn't even want to know. She cracked her knuckles and I made an ugly sound where I laughed, hiccuped, and snorted at the same time.