Eternal Echoes

Chapter Twenty-Five: Mixed Signals

Michaella's POV

I lay in bed, staring at the message from Gabrielle. "Michaella, can we talk?" The words felt surreal, and I didn't know what to do. Should I answer? What would I even say?

I waited, my mind racing. Finally, I took a deep breath and typed, "About what?"

His reply came quickly. "How are you?"

"Good," I responded, keeping my answers short and guarded.

"How's your health? I know you were having some issues."

"Fine."

"Michaella, everything will be okay," he sent, adding a heart emoji.

"Yeah."

He asked one more thing, but I answered with another one-word reply. Then, once again, he said, "Everything will be okay."

"Hopefully," I replied, feeling a mix of frustration and longing.

He sent a string of hearts, but I simply marked the message as seen and didn't reply. My mind was a whirlwind of emotions, and I didn't know what to make of his sudden outreach. Eventually, sleep took over, and I drifted into a dream filled with memories of Gabrielle.

The next day, I woke up with a lingering sense of confusion. I decided to meet up with Elijah and Matthew to share what had happened. We agreed to meet at our favourite café, a cozy place that always felt like home.

When I arrived, they were already there, sipping on their drinks. Elijah waved me over, and I slid into the booth beside them.

"So, what's up?" Elijah asked, his eyes full of curiosity.

"I got a message from Gabrielle last night," I said, feeling the weight of their gazes on me.

Matthew leaned in, his expression serious. "What did he say?"

The waiter came interrupting us to take my order, "I'll have a shrimp Caesar salad, Thank you."

I recounted the entire conversation, emphasizing how he kept saying everything would be okay and the hearts he sent. They listened intently, their faces a mix of concern and surprise.

"And you didn't reply?" Elijah asked, his protective nature evident.

"No, I just marked it as seen. I didn't know what to say," I admitted, feeling a bit vulnerable.

"Sounds like he's trying to reach out, but it's pretty vague," Matthew commented.

"Do you think he wants to get back together?" Elijah asked, his brow furrowing.

"I don't know," I replied honestly. "It's confusing. Part of me wants to talk to him, but another part of me feels like I should move on."

Elijah put a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Whatever you decide, we're here for you."

After lunch, we decided to go shopping to distract me from my thoughts. The mall was bustling, and it felt good to be surrounded by the lively energy. We wandered from store to store, chatting and laughing.

As we were exiting a boutique, I saw Alex walking toward us. He waved, a bright smile on his face.

"Hey, Michaella! Did you like the flowers?" he asked, his tone cheerful.

I nodded, trying to keep my expression neutral. "Yes, thank you. They were beautiful."

Elijah and Matthew exchanged glances, their protective instincts kicking in. Elijah stepped forward slightly, his eyes narrowing at Alex.

"How did you know her favourite flowers and address?" Elijah asked, his tone challenging.

Alex looked a bit taken aback but quickly composed himself. "I asked Pamela for the details. I just wanted to congratulate her on the podcast milestone."

Matthew crossed his arms, his gaze steady. "It seems a bit much for just congratulations."

Alex raised his hands in a placating gesture. "I didn't mean any harm. I just wanted to do something nice."

I stepped in, trying to diffuse the tension. "Guys, it's fine. Alex was just being thoughtful."

Elijah shot me a look that said we'd be talking about this later, but he backed off. Alex seemed relieved and gave me another warm smile.

"Well, I'll see you around, Michaella. Congrats again," he said before walking away.

As soon as he was out of earshot, Elijah turned to me. "I don't trust him."

"He's just being friendly," I insisted, though I couldn't deny the uneasy feeling in my stomach.

Matthew nodded. "Just be careful, okay? We've got your back."

That evening, I sat on my balcony with a glass of margarita, enjoying the warm breeze. My laptop was open in front of me, and I was working on my story, letting my thoughts flow freely onto the screen.

As I wrote, a memory surfaced – "A beautiful evening when Gabrielle, his brother, and parents visited my family for the first time. I remember how nervous I was, wanting everything to be perfect. When they arrived at our house, our family dog Lui greeted them enthusiastically. Gabrielle handed me a bouquet of flowers, and I felt a rush of warmth and happiness.

We all sat down for dinner, which was a delightful affair filled with laughter and conversation. Gabrielle kept his arm wrapped around me, whispering loving words in my ear. I was grateful that our parents got along so well, and the night felt perfect in every way."

As the memory faded, I looked out at the view from my balcony. The city lights twinkled like stars, and I whispered a silent prayer. "God, if we're meant to be, bring us back together. I'm not capable of loving anybody else but him."

I finished my drink and went inside. After my skincare routine, I climbed into bed, my thoughts still with Gabrielle. Just as I was drifting off to sleep, I stared at the empty side of the bed, whispering, "Good night, Gabrielle. I love you."

***************************************************************

Do you think Gabrielle and Michaella will get back together?