Unspoken Love

Dilemma

In the evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Eva decided to reach out to Sir Steven. She sent him a message: 'Are you free? Let's go for a walk.' She lay in her room, anticipation building.

Sir Steven, unaware of the message while he was in the shower, finally read it after half an hour. He wasted no time and responded, 'Sorry, I was in the shower. I'm free now. Meet me at the front door in five minutes.' He quickly got ready, his heart racing with the prospect of spending time with Eva.

Eva, equally eager to be with him, prepared herself and made her way to the front door. To her delight, she found Sir Steven already waiting for her.

'Mom, we're going for a walk. You all can have dinner without us,' Sir Steven informed his mother, and with a warm smile, they left the house together.

Sir Steven held Eva's hand as they walked together in the chilly evening, a comfortable silence between them. The promise of snowfall hung in the air, but for now, the world remained untouched by winter's touch.

As they strolled, Eva decided to break the silence, her voice trembling with the weight of the news she was about to share. 'My parents want me to return to Crestwood with them this week,' she confessed, her gaze fixed on the path ahead.

Sir Steven came to a sudden halt, the warmth in his eyes giving way to a cloud of concern. He turned to face Eva, standing directly in front of her. 'Why?' he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Eva continued to avoid his gaze, her thoughts a jumbled mess. 'Well, I had to go back someday, of course. I can't stay here forever. Crestwood is my home.'

Sir Steven's mind was racing, trying to process what he had just heard. "Do you not like it here?" he asked, his heart heavy with uncertainty.

Eva sighed, struggling to articulate her feelings. 'It's not about liking. It's more like my house is there, my parents are there. It's only natural that I should return.'

Desperation laced his voice as Sir Steven asked, 'And me? Am I nothing to you?' He didn't want to force her into a difficult choice, but the words tumbled out, revealing the depth of his feelings.

Eva's tears began to fall, her emotions pouring out with her tears. 'You mean a lot to me. I just don't know how to explain it. I want to stay with you, but my parents' concerns are also valid. I'm torn and don't know what to do.'

Unable to see her in distress, Sir Steven drew her into a comforting embrace, whispering words of reassurance, 'Don't cry, Eva. I understand. I'm sorry if I sounded rude just now. We'll figure something out. You don't have to worry.'

In that moment, they clung to each other, their emotions inextricably intertwined. The path ahead was uncertain, but their bond remained unshaken, and they were determined to find a way to navigate the challenges that lay before them.

The atmosphere at the house was noticeably tense when Sir Steven and Eva returned, their silence speaking volumes. Sir Steven retired to his room, and Eva went to her own, prompting their family members to realize that something was amiss. Sir Steven's absence at dinner only heightened the unease, while Eva, though present, remained mostly silent.

After the meal, Philip, concerned by the unusual circumstances, decided to visit his brother's room. He found Sir Steven engrossed in a book and decided to address the matter at hand.

'Why didn't you come for dinner?' Philip asked, taking a seat by the writing desk.

Sir Steven kept his eyes on the book and replied, 'I wasn't hungry.'

Philip, persistent and worried, implored, 'What happened? Tell me. Don't hide anything like before, Steven. Please.'

Silence hung in the room for a while, but Philip was determined to get to the bottom of the situation. 'I'll not move from this place unless you tell me what happened. I can even sleep in your room if that's what it takes,' he declared as he stretched himself in his seat.