Blooming Hearts

chapter 3

Adele's POV :

No one knew yet that I had come back

from America.

I decided to live in my hometown again.

Tonight, I went to the usual park with

Jamey.

It was almost 12 p.m., so I didn't think

anyone would be out at this hour.

As I was walking, I heard someone

crying.

I followed the sound and found a girl in

her late twenties, sobbing

uncontrollably.

I wanted to approach her, but then her

phone rang.

She quickly composed herself,

pretending nothing had happened.

She spoke in a language I didn't

understand, but it was clear she was

faking a good life for a family member.

It reminded me of myself-it was so

painful to watch.

I was lost in thought, watching her, and

didn't realize that her call had ended and

she was crying again.

Before I could react, Jamey ran over to

her, and I couldn't stop him.

When she saw Jamey, she smiled and

tried to reassure him that she was

alright.

This girl was something else; she was a

treasure.

I approached her, and when she looked

up, she seemed shocked, staring at me

without blinking.

Then, as if realizing what was

happening, she wiped her tears and

stood up.

She said, "I'm sorry, I suppose it's your

dog."

She smiled, and her smile was so

beautiful that it made me want to see it

every single day.

I replied, "It's okay, darling. Relax, and

thank you. I think Jamey really likes you.

Don't mind if I ask your name?"

She answered, "I'm Elina. It's really nice

to meet you, Mrs. Adkins."

*What a polite and shy girl,* I thought.

*No one-absolutely no one-has called

me Ms. Adkins since I was 19.*

I smiled and said, "It's really nice to meet

you too, dear Elina. And please, don't call

me that-just Adele. And I'm not Mrs.

yet; I'm still Ms."

Elina smiled again, but there was a deep

pain in her eyes.

Concerned, I asked, "You were crying

really hard-you made me worry."

Elina's expression changed, like she

didn't like being seen while she was

crying.

Now, she seemed ashamed.

"It was nothing," she replied. "Just a

hard, lonely day."

I responded, "You didn't seem lonely-

two people called you in an hour."

Elina gave a sad smile. "I'm that kind of

person who's lonely in the most crowded

places.

I'm alone because people call me, but the

only thing they want to hear is that I'm

fine.

If I tell them I'm not, they simply don't

call anymore.

They're fake. I don't have someone who

will understand that I'm not okay based

on my eyes and the way I talk.

That's why I'm alone."