Eternal Echoes

Chapter Seventy- Five: A Walk Through Memories

Michaella's POV

The morning light filtered softly through the curtains, casting a gentle glow across the room. I woke up to the familiar sounds of home—my mother humming in the kitchen, the distant clatter of my father's newspaper as he settled in for his morning read. There was something comforting about waking up in my childhood bedroom, surrounded by memories that seemed to cradle me in a warm embrace.

I got out of bed and stretched, feeling a slight ache in my chest, a reminder of the emotions that had stirred within me last night. The news of Matthew and Marian's engagement had been such a beautiful surprise, yet it had also brought to the surface questions I hadn't wanted to face. But today was a new day, and as I walked down the stairs, I resolved to make the most of it.

In the kitchen, I found my mom bustling around, preparing breakfast. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and warm toast filled the air, and I couldn't help but smile.

"Good morning, sweetheart," she greeted me with a warm smile as she set a plate of scrambled eggs on the table. "Did you sleep well?"

"Well enough," I replied, giving her a quick hug. "It's nice to wake up here again, even if just for a few days."

She nodded, her eyes softening with affection. "We love having you here, Michaella. It feels like old times."

My dad walked in just then, his reading glasses perched on his nose as he glanced up from the newspaper. "Good morning, darling," he said, his voice warm and reassuring. "Join us for breakfast?"

"Of course," I said, taking a seat at the table. The three of us sat together, eating in comfortable silence, the way we always had. It was moments like these that I cherished the most—the simplicity of being with my parents, of feeling like everything was right in the world, even if just for a little while.

After breakfast, I decided to take a walk to clear my head. The park where Gabrielle and I used to spend so much time together was calling to me. I needed to revisit those memories, to understand why they still held such a strong grip on my heart.

The park was quiet, with only a few people strolling along the paths. I wandered towards the old oak tree that had our initials carved on it, where we used to sit, its branches still as strong and sprawling as I remembered. Sitting down on the bench beneath it, I let the memories wash over me.

This was where Gabrielle and I had shared countless conversations, where we'd dreamed together, planned a future that now seemed so distant. I could still hear his laughter in my mind, feel the warmth of his hand in mine. But the truth was, those days were gone, and I was here alone, grappling with what remained.

As I sat there, lost in thought, I heard a voice call out to me.

"Michaella? Is that really you?"

I looked up to see a young woman approaching, her face lighting up with recognition. She was in her early twenties, with curly brown hair and a kind smile. I didn't recognize her at first, but there was something about her that seemed familiar.

"Yes, it's me," I replied, smiling back. "I'm sorry, have we met before?"

She shook her head, her cheeks flushing slightly. "No, we haven't met, but I've followed your work for a while now. I listen to your podcast religiously. You've inspired me more than you could ever know."

Her words caught me off guard, and I felt a rush of emotion that I hadn't expected. It wasn't every day that I met someone who knew me through my work and hearing her say that I had inspired her... it touched something deep within me.