Cade
The sky was a canvas of dark indigo, studded with countless stars that twinkled like fireflies. I had finished a long shift and decided to stop by a gas station on the way home.
It sat uneasily at the edge of a rough neighborhood. The buildings nearby were run-down with the paint peeling and windows boarded up.
Entering the store, I was surprised to recognize the young girl standing there.
Her honey-brown was braided and secured by a silken ribbon. Her gentle eyes were a vivid green like a tranquil forest. Subtle freckles were sprinkled across her cheeks; stardust on porcelain skin.
When she turned around, I noticed a gash on her forehead, crimson with blood. The doctor instincts in me immediately kicked in and I helped clean the wound.
Afterward, I sat beside her on the curb, hoping that my company would bring solace.
She told me her name was Aurelia while staring at the radiant moon. That's when I stiffened because the name sounded all too familiar. There's no way it could be her.
"How old are you?" I asked, trying to keep my tone calm.
"I-I'm fourteen," she replied.
My mind raced with a million thoughts but I kept my face neutral. Now wasn't the time for this.
"You're already working at the café," I said instead. "It must also be tough to balance school."
She shrugged. "I like to keep myself busy, I guess."
"Me too. Although there isn't much choice in this line of work that I do."
"W-what kind of doctor are you?" She asked. This took me by surprise.
"I'm a general surgeon," I replied.
"That's r-really cool."
I nodded. We sat in comfortable silence for a while before I asked, "Are you doing okay?"
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ears. "Yeah."
"Are you sure, Aurelia? You can talk to me."
"It's really nothing, j-just tired from school and work."
"Anything else?"
"No," she mumbled. Her expression changed to one of sudden urgency. "Oh it's getting really late, I should get going."
I decided not to press further because she was right about it being late at night. "Are you okay to head home alone?"
"Yeah, it's just down the street," she answered with a hurried voice. "I really have to go. Thank you again for your help!"
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A/N
Yes, as you can see from Cade's pov there's a secret backstory because he may somehow know Aurelia?! We'll find out in later chapters. ;)
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Evermore
Teen FictionAurelia is a fourteen-year-old girl who feels lost in a world that has never shown her kindness. Being an orphan, she is familiar with the cold embrace of the foster care system and her hope of finding a place to belong is slowly diminishing. Cade i...
