His name was Nathaniel

13

The days turned into weeks, each one dragging on with agonizing slowness that gnawed at Adaliya's resolve. Every evening, she would slip away from her grandparents' house, making her way to the shore near Nathaniel's mansion, hoping—praying—that tonight would be the night he would appear. But every night, the waves greeted her in silence, the cold wind her only companion as her despair grew.

Adaliya wrapped her arms around herself as she sat on the rocky shore, the moonlight casting a silver sheen over the water. The place that had once been a sanctuary now felt like a desolate void. She had lost count of how many nights she had spent here, staring out into the darkness, waiting for Nathaniel. Each time, she told herself that there must be a reason he wasn't coming—that something had happened, but he would find a way back to her. But with each passing day, her hope frayed a little more, unraveling at the edges.

Lola's voice cut through the silence, pulling Adaliya from her thoughts. "You need to stop doing this to yourself, Adaliya," she said softly, concern etched into her features as she sat beside her friend. "It's been weeks. If he hasn't shown up by now..."

Adaliya shook her head, refusing to accept Lola's words. "Something's happened to him, Lola. I know it. He wouldn't just leave me like this. He promised he would meet me."

Lola sighed, her heart aching for her friend. "I get it, Liya. I really do. But we have no way of knowing what's going on. For all we know, his father might've found out."

Adaliya turned to Lola, her eyes bright with determination. "Then we have to find out. We can't just sit here doing nothing while he could be... who knows what he's going through?"

Lola frowned, knowing where this conversation was headed. "You're not thinking what I think you're thinking, are you?"

Adaliya's expression hardened, the uncertainty of the past weeks solidifying into resolve. "I am. I'm going to get inside that mansion and find him. I have to know if he's okay, Lola. I can't just keep waiting."

Lola hesitated, worry flickering in her eyes. "Addy, that place is locked up tighter than a fortress. And if his father really did find out about you..."

"That's exactly why I need to do this," Adaliya interrupted. "If his father found out, then Nathaniel's in danger. He might need me. And I'm not going to sit here and do nothing while he could be suffering."

Lola bit her lip, torn between her desire to protect Adaliya and the fear of what might happen if they were caught. But the look in Adaliya's eyes left no room for argument. She was going to do this, with or without her help.

"Okay," Lola said finally, relenting with a sigh. "But we need a plan—a good one. We can't just barge in there without thinking it through."

Adaliya nodded, relief flooding through her. "I've been thinking about that. There's an old service entrance on the west side of the mansion, near the gardens. It's not as heavily guarded as the front, and with the right timing, we might be able to sneak in without being seen."

Lola raised an eyebrow. "And how exactly do you know about this entrance?"

Adaliya looked down, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Nathaniel told me about it once. He said it was one of the only places where he could get some privacy away from the staff."

Lola couldn't help but smile at that. "Alright. We'll plan it out, but we'll be careful. No rushing into anything until we're sure we can do it without getting caught."

Adaliya nodded, though her mind was already racing ahead, formulating the details. She knew the risks, but the thought of Nathaniel trapped, maybe hurt or worse, spurred her on. She couldn't let fear hold her back.