Eternal Echoes

Chapter Thirty-One: The Aftermath of The Getaway

Michaella's POV

The weekend getaway had been exactly what I needed—a break from reality, surrounded by the people who cared about me the most. As I sat at my desk, I couldn't help but scroll through the photos and videos on my phone. The memories of laughter, deep conversations, and the warmth of being with loved ones were still fresh in my mind.

I posted a few more pictures to my Instagram, captioning them with heartfelt notes about friendship and the importance of taking time for oneself. Almost immediately, the notifications started rolling in. Among the likes and comments, Gabrielle's name stood out. My heart skipped a beat seeing his name, and I found myself lost in thought, reminiscing about the moments we had shared.

Elijah knocked on my door, pulling me back to the present. "Hey, you up for some coffee?" he asked, leaning against the doorframe.

"Always," I replied, smiling.

As we walked to our favourite café, Elijah brought up the getaway. "You seemed really happy this weekend, Ella. It's been a while since I've seen you like that."

"It was a great escape," I admitted. "I felt free, like I could breathe again. But then, reality hits the moment I get back."

He nodded, understanding. "Gabrielle's likes, huh?"

I sighed. "Yeah. It's like he's always there, just enough to keep me on edge but not enough to really be present."

Elijah paused, choosing his words carefully. "Ella, you know we all want the best for you. If Gabrielle's presence, even if it's just online, is holding you back from moving on, maybe it's time to do something about it."

"I know," I said softly. "But it's hard to let go completely. There are days when I think I'm over him, and then something like this happens."

Elijah squeezed my shoulder. "Take your time. Just remember, we're all here for you."

Back at home, I decided to channel my emotions into something productive. I sat at my typewriter, the one Gabrielle had given me, and began to write. The rhythmic clacking of the keys was therapeutic, each word pouring out from the depths of my heart.

"In the quiet aftermath of a perfect weekend, she found herself lost in the echoes of laughter and the warmth of memories. The world outside seemed distant, a mere backdrop to the drama unfolding within her soul. She wondered how long she could keep pretending that the ghost of a love long past didn't haunt her every waking moment."

As I wrote, my phone buzzed with a notification. It was a text from Mia: "Dinner tonight at Marian's place. Be there!"

I smiled. It was good to have these constants in my life. These friends who grounded me, reminded me of who I was outside of my relationship with Gabrielle.

Marian's apartment was warm and inviting, filled with the aroma of home-cooked food and the sound of cheerful chatter. Matthew greeted me with a hug, and Marian handed me a glass of wine.

"To a great weekend and even better friends," Marian toasted, raising her glass.

We clinked our glasses together, the atmosphere buzzing with camaraderie. As the night wore on, the conversation inevitably turned to our getaway and the fun we had.

"That truth game was something else," Alan said with a laugh. "I learned more about you all than I ever wanted to know!"

"It was revealing," Mia agreed, winking at me. "But that's what made it fun. No pretense, just raw honesty."

I nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude for these moments. "It was freeing. I think we all needed it."

Later that night, as I sat on my balcony with a cup of tea, I reflected on Elijah's words. Maybe it was time to take control of my own narrative, to stop letting the past dictate my present.

I took a deep breath, opening my phone and navigating to Gabrielle's profile. My finger hovered over the 'unfollow' button. It felt like a monumental decision, a step towards reclaiming my life. But I couldn't, my love and long for him was bigger than me, I couldn't do it, unfollowing him means losing that last bit of contact I had with him. As I drifted off to sleep, I started hearing Gabrielle's voice....

I woke up with a jolt, my heart pounding in my chest. The remnants of a dream—no, a nightmare—lingered in my mind, vivid and haunting. Gabrielle's face was etched into every corner of my consciousness, his smile, his touch, the way he whispered my name. Tears streamed down my face as I sat up, clutching the wooden cross, "Please God Please, I still love him. But I don't want to love him anymore, I don't want to get hurt anymore, please. Help me forget, please, help me let him go. He doesn't love me anymore, He doesn't want me in his life. Please God." I cried out.

The dream had felt so real, so painfully real. In it, Gabrielle and I were together, laughing and holding hands, as if nothing had ever come between us. But then, as dreams often do, it turned into a nightmare. I saw him walking away, leaving me behind, and I couldn't move, couldn't speak, couldn't do anything to stop him. I cried out, feeling the weight of my love and loss pressing down on me. "Why can't I let go? Why does it still hurt so much?" The room was silent, except for my sobs, and I felt a desperate longing for some kind of answer, some kind of peace.

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Getting over someone you didn't imagine living without is hard... What do you guys think?