Eternal Echoes

Chapter Forty-Six: The Pressure of an Unwritten Ending

Michaella's POV

I woke up with the first light of dawn filtering through my curtains, feeling a surge of energy I hadn't experienced in a while. I stretched, savouring the way my body felt alive, ready for whatever the day had in store. As I made my way to the bathroom, I let the warmth of the shower water wash over me, rinsing away the remnants of yesterday's worries. Today was a new day, and I felt ready to face it.

After my shower, I took my time getting ready, carefully choosing an outfit that made me feel both elegant and powerful. A white shirt tucked into high-waisted green trousers, paired with simple gold jewellery, felt just right. I let my hair fall in loose waves over my shoulders and slipped on my favourite black pumps. When I looked at myself in the mirror, I felt confident, like I could conquer anything.

In the kitchen, I brewed my favourite coffee, the aroma filling the room with a sense of comfort. I took my mug and sat down near the bar, my iPad in front of me. As I scrolled through my emails, one in particular caught my eye. It was from the publishers responsible for the competition.

They wanted a draft of how I planned to end the story. My heart skipped a beat. I hadn't decided on the ending yet. How could I, when everything still felt so unresolved? I stared at the email, a mixture of anxiety and excitement bubbling up inside me. Before I could dwell too much on it, my phone rang, jolting me out of my thoughts.

It was Rachel, my publisher. "Did you check your email?" she asked as soon as I answered.

"Yeah, I just did," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.

"What are you planning to do?" she pressed.

I hesitated. "I don't know. I still haven't decided on the ending."

Rachel sighed on the other end. "I know, but you have to. It's crucial for the competition."

"I'll try my best," I promised, feeling the weight of the decision settle on my shoulders.

"Okay, just don't forget that you need to submit it by today," she reminded me.

"I won't," I assured her, and we hung up.

I sat there for a moment, staring at the email again. How was I supposed to write an ending when I didn't even know what I wanted it to be? The thought of Gabrielle crept into my mind, and I quickly pushed it away. There was no time for distractions.

When I glanced at the clock, I realized I was running late. Today was important—I had a meeting with the podcast team to discuss the first episode of the new season. We were moving to video, and I wanted to make sure everything was perfect. I quickly gathered my things and headed out the door, determined to focus on the tasks at hand.

The office was buzzing with energy when I arrived. Alex was waiting for me in the lobby, holding a cup of Americano. His smile was warm, and for a moment, I felt a pang of guilt for the way things had gone between us.

"Morning, Michaella. You look amazing today," he said, handing me the coffee.

"Thanks, Alex," I replied, taking the cup. "Ready for the big meeting?"

"Absolutely. We've got some new faces joining the team today, and I think you're going to love them," he said as we walked to the conference room.

Inside, a small group had already gathered around the table. Alex introduced me to the new members—Sara, a video production specialist, and David, an audio engineer. They both seemed enthusiastic, eager to dive into the project, and I couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.