Fallen Angel

9. Where are you, Aurora?

It had been three days since Aurora had left the sandwiches in front of Ethan's door and he hadn't been able to thank her because she didn't come to class, or opened the door, or picked up the phone. Olivia was also very worried and decided that if she had no news by the fifth day, she would go to the police.

Ethan thought, however, that he could jump off the balcony. There was not much separation and it was possible to move from one to the other without problems. If it turned out that Aurora was at home, she would be very angry, but it was better a momentary anger than eternal worry.

So, barefoot and dressed with sweatpants and a tank top, he jumped onto Aurora's balcony. He thought that it had been three days, too, that he hadn't seen her paint like every afternoon and every Saturday morning, and he missed it. The glass door was closed, but not locked. He dragged it and entered.

Everything was ordered, calm, with the sweet aroma of Aurora floating through the apartment. The bed made, the table and the kitchen clean. But in the toilet, there were still drops in the sink. Someone had used it recently. And then he saw a letter on the bedside table. He picked it up and read it.

"Dear Aurora,

I'm writing this letter to let you know that, unfortunately, I will have to stay abroad longer than planned. I got an offer that I couldn't refuse. Don't worry, I will make more money and I can continue to pay for your apartment and send you the amount you need. I'm sorry, we'll have to wait a little longer to see each other. I have no news about dad and mum, sorry.

Take care of yourself,

Caleb"

Ethan didn't remember Aurora ever mentioning any Caleb, but from the contents of the letter he guessed it must be her brother. So, this must have been the letter she was waiting for so impatiently. The letter that made her sigh in front of the mailbox and make her have a sad face.

"Shit", he murmured, and threw the letter against the table.

He went back to his apartment and changed his clothes as fast as he could. Outside, the sky had clouded over and it looked like it was going to rain at any moment. He put on a long jacket over his turtleneck sweater and grabbed an umbrella, just in case. When he left the apartment, he saw Olivia in front of the elevator.

"Hey, Olivia! Where are you going?"

"Ethan! I came to see if Aurora had come back, but I see that she has not. I can't take it anymore. I need to know how she is. I'm going to look for her."

"I'm coming with you. Do you have any idea where she might be?"

"I don't know... I can't think of any place she could have gone," her voice showed concern.

And then Ethan remembered what Aurora had told him at the big wheel. "Do you see the carousel over there? My older brother adored them when he was little. He promised me that one day he would be a designer and that he would build the best carousel in the world for me to ride on." He looked at Olivia, seriously.

"I think I know where she might be. It must be at the amusement park. His brother loved that place."

Olivia looked at him first in surprise, then with a small smile.

"So, maybe it's better that you go alone."

"Why?"

"You know... Aurora doesn't talk about her family with anyone. In fact, all I know is what my parents have told me. But Aurora is my best friend, and when you asked me who she was expecting a letter from, I thought it would be a betrayal to tell you without her permission. For her, it is a very personal matter. I'm sorry, Ethan."

"You don't have to apologize. I understand. You are a good friend, Olivia." She blushed.

"That's why I think it's better that you go without me."

Ethan nodded silently. They both went down to the lobby.

"Ethan... take care of her, please. Make her come home." She she said without looking at him as she adjusted the collar of his jacket.

"Don't worry, I will."

The boy ran out into the rain that had already started to fall. Olivia looked at him from under the porch, with a feeling of tenderness and sadness in her heart.

***

Ethan ran down many streets, just in case he found her coming home. It was mid-afternoon, but the sky was very grey and everything had little light. There were hardly any people on the street, with that weather. He stopped for a moment to catch his breath and leaned against a lamppost. "I... I don't understand. I don't understand why... I am worrying so much for her". He closed his eyes, sighed, and ran again.

Finally, he entered the amusement park. It was late and there was hardly anyone left. It was all shadows and trees moving in the wind. He walked for a few minutes until he reached the carousel.

And there, between the shadows and the light of a lamppost, he saw a girl in a white dress and a sky-blue scarf around her neck. She looked at the carousel, already closed and without people, in the rain, with a sad look like he had never seen before.

//

Hi! What do you think will happen next? Did you like this chapter? I hope you have a lovely weekend <3