Michaella, a gifted writer, finds herself haunted by the memories of a love that slipped through her fingers. As she pens down her heartache and cherished moments with Gabrielle, an architect whose charm and warmth once made her world brighter, she...
I awoke to the soft chime of my phone, blinking lazily at the screen. It was a message from Elijah: "Meet us at the tennis court at 8. Don't be late! 🎾" A quick glance at the clock jolted me awake—it was already 7. No time to waste.
I jumped out of bed and headed straight to the shower, letting the warm water wake me up fully. As I towel-dried my hair, I rummaged through my closet for a cute tennis outfit—a white pleated skirt, a matching crop top, and my trusty sneakers. I grabbed my racket, water bottle, keys, and bolted out the door, feeling the familiar rush of adrenaline as I hopped into my car.
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The morning air was crisp and fresh as I pulled up to the tennis court. Elijah, Matthew, and Marian were already there, stretching and warming up. Elijah caught sight of me first, flashing a playful grin.
"Look who finally decided to show up!" Elijah teased as I approached.
"Hey, I'm only fashionably late," I shot back with a wink, taking my place beside them.
Matthew tossed me a ball, and we started hitting it back and forth to warm up. "Ready to getyour butt kicked, Michaella?" he asked, laughing.
"Please, you wish!" I retorted, positioning myself for the serve.
The game was intense but fun, filled with laughter and playful banter. Elijah, ever the show-off, was determined to win, but Marian and I made a formidable team. We raced across the court, our rackets connecting with the ball in perfect harmony. Every so often, I'd catch Matthew and Elijah exchanging competitive glances, making it clear they weren't going easy on us.
After what felt like a lifetime of rallies and volleys, Marian and I managed to score the winning point. I raised my racket in victory, breathless but exhilarated.
"Well played, ladies," Matthew admitted, slightly out of breath himself. "But next time, we won't go easy on you."
I laughed. "Sure, keep telling yourself that."
As we gathered our things, Marian turned to me. "Why don't you come over to our place for breakfast? We can continue the fun there."
I smiled at the offer but shook my head. "I'd love to, but I have two meetings lined up, and I need to get ready. Rain check?"
"Absolutely," Marian replied, giving me a warm smile. "Next time then."
We exchanged goodbyes, and I drove back home, feeling the satisfying ache in my muscles from the morning's workout. Once home, I took a long, refreshing shower, letting the steam soothe my tired body. After dressing in a simple yet chic outfit—black trousers and a white blouse—I grabbed the gifts I'd bought for my family and rushed out the door.
