Blooming Hearts

chapter 2

One evening, after another long day at

work, Elina decided she needed a change

of pace.

*I need to get out,* she thought, feeling

the walls of her apartment closing in on

her.

She grabbed her coat and headed out for

a walk, her feet instinctively taking her

to Tattenham, her favorite part of

London.

There was something about this place

that made her feel safe, almost like she

was home.

*Is it because this is Adele's hometown?*

she wondered as she walked down the

familiar streets.

*Or maybe it's just the positive energy these streets seem to have.*

Elina adored Adele.

The singer was more than just an artist

to her-she was a lifeline.

*Adele is the only person who's never left

me,* she mused, though she knew the

thought was irrational.

Adele had no idea Elina existed, but the

comfort she found in Adele's music was

undeniable.

Every lyric, every note felt like it was

written just for her.

*She understands me,* Elina thought,

*even if she doesn't know it.*

Elina had never allowed herself to fall in

love again after the traumatic experience

she had back in Iran.

The fear, the shame, the constant hiding

-it had all been too much.

But Adele was different.

*I know it sounds crazy,* she admitted to

herself, *but it's not like I have anyone

else to talk to about it.*

In her loneliness, she clung to this

one-sided connection, finding solace in

Adele's voice when there was none to be

found elsewhere.

As she wandered through the quiet

streets of Tattenham, Elina came across a

small park she hadn't noticed before.

Drawn to its tranquility, she walked in

and found a bench to sit on.

The evening air was cool, and the park

was peaceful, a perfect place to clear her

mind.

She was just beginning to relax when her

phone rang, the screen lighting up with a

video call from her mother.

With a sigh, she answered, forcing a

smile onto her face.

The conversation was brief and polite,

with Elina doing her best to keep up

appearances.

She laughed, talked about work, and

pretended that everything was perfectly

normal.

But as soon as the call ended, the facade

crumbled.

The tears came hard and fast, years of

pent-up emotion finally breaking

through.

She buried her face in her hands,

sobbing quietly, not caring who might

see.

Then, as if on cue, her phone rang again.

It was her uncle.

Elina wiped her tears hastily, trying to

regain her composure.

*Come on, Elina, breathe,* she told

herself, counting silently to ten before

answering.

The voice she projected was steady,

cheerful even, as if she hadn't just been

crying her heart out moments before.

She played the part perfectly, as she

always did, but when the call ended, the

tears returned with a vengeance.

The overwhelming weight of her

emotions was too much to bear.

Suddenly, in the midst of her tears, she

felt a soft nudge against her leg.

Startled, Elina looked down to see a

small puppy at her feet, wagging its tail

and looking up at her with big, innocent

eyes.

The dog wore a label on its collar.

Despite everything, Elina couldn't help

but smile through her tears.

"Sorry, little Jamy, I'm fine. Look, I'm

smiling," she said, her voice still shaky as

she reached down to pet the dog.

"Where is your owner, anyway?"

Just then, Elina felt a presence nearby.

She looked up, her breath catching in her

throat as she saw...