Made for each other

Chapter 6

After taking Emma to school, Elliot asked Liv if she wanted to take a walk in the park, to which she said yes, and that was the beginning of a very nostalgic afternoon.

******

The crisp autumn air nipped at Olivia's cheeks as she walked alongside Elliot, the park's fallen leaves crunching under their feet. It had been six years since they last walked together, back when they were high school sweethearts, their futures intertwined with dreams of a life together. Now, the air crackled with an awkward tension that had nothing to do with the cold.
"Remember this tree?" Elliot asked, his voice warm and familiar. "We carved our initials into it."
Olivia nodded, tracing the faint inscription with her finger. A wave of bittersweet memories flooded her, each one tinged with the pain of their breakup. "We were so young, so naive" she said, her voice barely a whisper.
Elliot's gaze softened. "Yeah, well, we were both going through a lot."
"You" Olivia began, hesitating, "you were going through your parent's divorce, your father moving in with that...Sarah woman. It was a lot to handle at seventeen."
"And you" Elliot countered, his eyes searching hers, "you were dealing with your father's...situation, and let's not talk about your mother. Nobody knew what you were going through, Liv."
The memory of that night, the night she finally confided in Elliot about her father's abuse, the night he held her close and promised to always be there for her, still sent shivers down her spine. It was a night that had ended in a tearful goodbye, a goodbye that felt more like an ending than a pause.
" I guess we both had our own demons to fight" Olivia said, her voice cracking slightly.
"We did" Elliot agreed. "And maybe we both assumed the other was stronger than they actually were. We were both scared, Liv."
The unspoken words hung heavy between them - scared, lost, alone. It was the fear that had driven them apart, the fear of not being enough, of not being able to handle each other's burdens.
They walked in comfortable silence for a while, the leaves rustling under their feet like a comforting melody. The walk was a stark contrast to the sterile and cold apartment Olivia lived in, with its constant scent of alcohol and her mother's despair. The crisp air and the vibrant colors of autumn, even the melancholic beauty of the fallen leaves, felt like a balm to her soul.

*******

As Elliot's luxurious house came into view, Olivia couldn't help but feel a pang of envy. It was a world she used to believe she could be a part of, a world that now felt light-years away.
"It's a beautiful house" she said, trying to keep the awe out of her voice.
Elliot smiled, "Emma loves it. She calls it her 'castle.'"
The mention of his little sister brought a smile to Olivia's face. Emma was a ray of sunshine, a tiny bundle of energy and innocence. Olivia loved spending time with her, finding a solace in her laughter and her unbridled joy that she rarely felt anymore.
"She's a real firecracker" Olivia said, a genuine smile spreading across her face.
"She is" Elliot chuckled, his voice filled with affection. "She's my little princess"

********

As they walked into the spacious hallway, a warm, inviting aroma wafted from the kitchen. It smelled of freshly baked cookies, a cozy scent that conjured up images of childhood memories and happy times.
Olivia felt a familiar tug at her heart. She used to bake cookies with her grandmother, her grandmother who had passed away when she was ten, leaving a gaping hole in her life.
Elliot, sensing her wistfulness, said, "My mom used to make these cookies all the time. I guess it's a family tradition now."
Olivia couldn't help but notice the warmth in his voice as he spoke about his mother. It was a warmth that she had once felt, a warmth that had been extinguished by the harsh realities of their lives.
As he opened the oven, a wave of warmth enveloped Olivia, taking her back to simpler times, to a time before their lives took such a drastic turn.
"Cookies" she said, a wistful smile gracing her lips, "they were like little pieces of happiness."
"They still are" Elliot said, catching her gaze. He held out a warm cookie to her, his eyes reflecting the warmth of the oven and the light of a fading sun. "Have one."
Olivia reached out, her fingers brushing against his. In that moment, the past faded away, replaced by the simple act of sharing a cookie. It was a moment of shared humanity, a moment of connection that transcended the past, a moment that held the possibility of something new, something real.