stars upon my face

chapter 12:so maybe I'm not okay

As I unpack my bags in the cozy cottage on the remote island, the weight of the unspoken secrets hanged heavy on my shoulders.

The sound of the crashing waves outside provides a soothing backdrop, but my mind is consumed by the unsettling revelations James had shared with me.

I can't shake the feeling of doubt that lingers within me, the nagging suspicion that there may be more to Edgar's past than what I know.

As we sit down to have lunch, the tension between us is palpable, a silent barrier separating us as we pick at our food, lost in our own thoughts.

As I glance out the window, the chirping of birds and the gentle rustling of leaves provide a sense of calming serenity.

But beneath the surface, the truth remains elusive, the shadows of our past looming ominously.

Suddenly, my phone buzzes with a text message, and my heart jumps in my chest as I see James' name on the screen.

With trembling fingers, I open the message, my eyes scanning the words that appear before me.

"Please, Nora, consider what I said. The truth may be closer than you think," the message reads, sending a shiver down my spine.

The weight of James' words bears down on me, the sense of unease growing with each passing moment.

"Nora ,is that your phone?",Edgar says taking a glimpse at my phone.

I turn to Edgar, my voice trembling as I speak. "Hazel just texted me," I say, my words hesitant. "She's asking when I'm coming back "

"Well she must be missing you alot",(ha-ha) "yea I guess she has ,I say making an excuse to avoid more tension.

As we finish our uneasy lunch in the quiet cottage on the remote island, the tension between Edgar and me hangs heavy in the air.

The weight of James' words continues to gnaw at the edges of my mind, leaving me unsettled and unsure of what to believe.

As we push our plates aside, the sound of Edgar's phone ringing breaks the silence.

He glances at the screen, a flicker of concern crossing his face before he excuses himself and steps outside to take the call.

Alone in the dimly lit room, I feel a sense of unease creeping over me. The shadows dance ominously on the walls, the secrets that lie between us casting a dark pall over our idyllic surroundings.

Just as I begin to lose myself in my thoughts, my phone buzzes once again, signaling a new message. With a trembling hand, I unlock the screen to see James' name once more.

"Be careful, Nora. Don't fall for his charm. The truth may be darker than you think," the message reads, sending a chill down my spine.

The weight of his words reverberates within me, the pull of uncertainty growing stronger with each passing moment.

As Edgar steps back into the room, a forced smile on his face, I can't shake the doubt that lingers within me.

The knowledge of the secrets that lie buried between us casts a shadow over our interactions, the cracks in our facade deepening with each passing moment.

As the day fades into night, the truth remains elusive, the darkness that surrounds us growing more ominous.

And as I sit in the quiet cottage, my mind filled with unanswered questions, the sense of unease that grips me intensifies, the shadows of doubt closing in around me.

As Edgar steps back into the room, a sense of urgency grips me.

I seize the opportunity to distract myself from the weight of his unspoken secrets by excusing myself to go upstairs and change my clothes.

In the dimly lit bedroom, the familiar comfort of the cozy cottage contrasts sharply with the unsettling tension that lingers in the air.

I begin to undress, my movements slow and deliberate as I try to calm the unease that churns within me.

As I open the drawer to put away my jewelry, my fingers brush against a stack of papers tucked away in the corner.

Curiosity gets the better of me, and I hesitate for a moment before reaching for the documents.

Just as I'm about to open the folder, I hear the soft creak of the bedroom door behind me.

My heart skips a beat as I realize Edgar has returned from his call and is standing in the doorway, his expression unreadable.

I quickly withdraw my hand, the documents forgotten as I force a smile and turn to face hi "I was just changing," I say, the words feeling hollow in the charged silence between us.

Edgar's gaze lingers on me for a moment before he nods, his smile tight and forced.

"Of course, Nora. Take your time," he says, his voice calm but with an undercurrent of tension.

As he leaves the room, I can't shake the feeling of missed opportunity that hangs in the air.

The documents in the drawer call out to me, the secrets they hold just beyond my grasp.

But as I stand alone in the room, the weight of uncertainty growing heavier within me, I know that the truth may be closer than I think, waiting to be uncovered in the shadows of our past.

I watch Edgar leave the room, my heart pounding in my chest.

The stack of papers in the drawer beckons to me, their secrets whispering tantalizingly in the back of my mind.

With a quick glance towards the hallway to ensure Edgar is truly occupied elsewhere, I seize the opportunity to slip the documents into my bag.

The weight of the folder in my hand feels heavy, the secrets it holds a tangible presence that seems to pulse with an ominous energy.

As I zip up my bag, I can't shake the feeling that I may be opening a door to truths that are better left undiscovered.

As I get ready for bed, the events of the day replay in my mind like a haunting melody.

The tension between Edgar and me, the cryptic messages from James, and now these mysterious documents all swirl together in a chaotic whirlwind of uncertainty.

I slip under the covers, the cool sheets a stark contrast to the heat of my racing thoughts.

As I close my eyes, I hope that sleep will offer me respite from the weight of these secrets.

But as darkness creeps in around me, I know that rest may be elusive tonight.

Tossing and turning, I can't escape the feeling that the answers I seek lie just beyond my reach, waiting to be uncovered in the shadows of the night.

And as I drift into an uneasy sleep, the promise of revelations and truths yet to be revealed lingers in the air, a silent specter haunting my restless dreams.