Hearts Aligned

Chapter 1

Elara Winters sat on the edge of her bed, her gaze fixed on the baby monitor beside her. The soft, rhythmic sound of her son's breathing filled the room, a soothing reminder that, for now, all was well. Orion, her five-year-old son, was the light of her life, the reason she pushed through the exhaustion that came with being a single mother. The flat was small but cozy, a sanctuary for her and Orion, though it often felt like the walls were closing in on her after the long days.

Elara hadn't expected to find herself in this situation, raising a child on her own in the heart of London. Just a few years ago, she had a promising career in fashion design, working her way up in a competitive industry. But life had other plans. She met someone, fell in love—or so she thought—and soon found herself pregnant. The father, Marcus had been anything but thrilled and the reality of fatherhood quickly set in. He wasn't ready, he said. The responsibility was too much for him to handle. And just like that, he was gone, leaving Elara to pick up the pieces of her shattered dreams. But Elara was strong. She had always been strong, even when life knocked her down. She had no choice but to rebuild, to find a way to provide for her son and create a life for the two of them. So she put her career on hold, found a job that allowed her to work from home, and dedicated herself to being the best mother she could be. It wasn't easy, but it was worth it every time she looked into Orion's big, curious eyes.

As she sat there, lost in thought, Elara's phone buzzed on the nightstand. She picked it up, her heart skipping a beat when she saw the name on the screen: Lila. Her best friend since university, Lila had been her rock through everything, always there with a listening ear and a glass of wine when things got tough.

"Hey, Lila," Elara said, trying to keep her voice quiet so she wouldn't wake Orion.
"Ellie, darling!" Lila's voice was bright and cheerful, as always. "I know it's late, but I had to call. I've got news."
Elara smiled at the nickname. Lila was the only one who still called her that. "What's up? You sound excited."
"I am! Remember that charity gala I told you about? The one I've been organizing for months? Well, I've got a plus one, and I refuse to let you say no."
Elara's smile faltered. "Lila, you know I can't—"
"Don't even start with that 'I can't' nonsense," Lila interrupted. "You deserve a night out, Ellie. And don't worry about Orion—I've already arranged for a babysitter. She's great with kids, trust me."
Elara sighed, glancing at the baby monitor again. It had been so long since she'd done anything just for herself. But the thought of leaving Orion, even for a few hours, filled her with anxiety.
"I don't know, Lila..."
"Ellie, listen to me," Lila said, her tone softening. "You've been working so hard, and you never take any time for yourself. You need this. Just one night to dress up, have fun, and remember that you're more than just a mum."

Elara bit her lip, torn between her desire to go and her fear of stepping out of her comfort zone. But Lila was right—she did need this. She needed to remember what it felt like to be something other than a mother, even if just for a few hours.
"Okay," Elara finally said. "I'll go."
"Yes!" Lila cheered. "You won't regret it, I promise. I'll pick you up at seven on Saturday. Wear something fabulous—I know you've got plenty of options."
Elara laughed softly. "I'll see what I can do. Thanks, Lila."
"Anytime, Ellie. I'll see you Saturday. And don't worry about a thing—I've got it all under control."

After they hung up, Elara set her phone down and leaned back against the headboard, a mix of excitement and nerves bubbling up inside her. It had been so long since she'd done anything social, let alone something as glamorous as a charity gala. But maybe this was exactly what she needed—a chance to step out of her routine and remind herself of the woman she used to be.
She glanced over at the closet, where her collection of dresses hung untouched for months. Maybe it was time to dust one of them off.

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A/N
Hiiiii welcome to the first chapter of our story! I know its a bit short but I promise the chapters will get longer! We are just at the beginning and I'm still getting a hang of writing again! I hope you all love it so far! Don't forget to vote and comment and favorite!

-K