Twilight of Shadows | LingOrm (GxG)

EIGHTEEN

As Earn stood at the airport, the excitement for her life in Australia was tinged with a deep sense of sadness. She turned to Nook, who is busy checking their travel documents.

"P'Nook, have we got everything?" Earn asked, her voice a mix of anticipation and worry.

Nook looked up with a reassuring smile. "Yes, Earn. Everything's in order. Do you have your passport and boarding pass?"

Earn checked her handbag and nodded. "Got them. Thanks for making sure."

Nook's smile widened, his pride evident. "You're all set. Just remember to keep in touch. We'll miss you around here."

As Earn and Nook headed towards the security checkpoint, her mom, Paew, approached with tears in her eyes. She enveloped Earn in a tight hug. "My sweet girl, I'm so proud of you. This is such an amazing opportunity, but it's so hard to let you go."

Earn hugged her mom back, tears starting to spill. "I'll miss you too, Ma. I promise I'll call often and send lots of pictures."

Paew looked at her with a mix of pride and sorrow. "Just remember, no matter how far you go, you always have a home here. Take care of yourself. We're all so proud of you."

Atid, standing next to Paew, gave Earn a supportive grin. "You're going to do amazing things, girl. But hey, don't forget us when you're mingling with celebrities. And remember, I expect that kangaroo photo!"

Earn laughed through her tears. "I won't forget, babe. I'll get that kangaroo pic just for you."

As Earn and Nook moved closer to the gate, Lada stayed hidden, her heart heavy with every step Earn took away from her. The bustling airport and its bright lights seemed to blur as Lada focused on the woman she was losing.

Inside, Lada's thoughts churned. You're really leaving? Leaving Narin? Leaving us behind? She wished with all her heart that Earn would turn around and come back.

She watched Earn, trying to memorize every detail of the woman she loved so deeply. The sight of Earn, so excited for her new beginning, only deepened Lada's sense of loss.

Tears threatened as Lada struggled to stay out of sight. Is this really the end? She felt the sting of reality as Earn moved further away, the future they had dreamed of slipping through her fingers.

Earn paused, her gaze sweeping the crowd as if sensing something. She took a deep breath, trying to focus on the journey ahead, though a lingering unease remained.

Lada watched Earn walk further away, her heart breaking with each step. So this is goodbye, she thought, tears finally falling as she turned to leave. The realization that Earn was moving on, leaving behind not just her but the future they had envisioned together, was overwhelming.

As Lada walked away, the noise of the airport grew distant. Her heart ached with the crushing weight of loss, knowing that the woman she loved was slipping away, chasing dreams far from the life they once hoped to share.

•••

As Lada sat in her study, the empty silence of the room mirrored the hollowness inside her. Its been 3 months now since Earn left for Australia, but the ache of her absence felt like it had been there forever. Every room felt colder, every day longer without her presence. She scrolled mindlessly through emails, her heart heavy, when her phone buzzed with a message.

Lada scrolled aimlessly through emails, trying to distract herself when her phone buzzed. She glanced at it, expecting another work message, but froze when she saw Earn's name pop up in a message from Atid.

"Lada, Earn is walking the runway now. Here's the link if you want to watch her."

Her breath caught. She hadn't prepared herself for this moment, seeing Earn like this—on a screen, far away from the life they once shared. But with trembling fingers, Lada clicked the link. The screen lit up, and there she was, Earn, radiant, confident, and walking the runway as if the world belonged to her.

Lada couldn't tear her eyes away. "You're so beautiful, Earn..." she whispered softly, her heart aching. The bright lights, the cameras flashing, the glamour of it all only heightened how far Earn had come. She was a vision, and Lada felt that familiar pull, the one she had always felt when watching Earn—captivated by her every move.

As the show continued, Lada's thoughts spun. This was Earn, fully in her element. "Look at you, living your dream..." She smiled sadly, watching as Earn commanded the runway. It wasn't just pride Lada felt—no, it was so much more. It was loss.

Her phone buzzed again. Another message from Atid.

"She looks amazing, right? Must feel good knowing she's out there killing it."

Lada's fingers hovered over the keyboard. Feel good? What did she feel? Pride, yes, but it was tangled with something heavier—like missing a part of herself she couldn't get back.

She typed a reply. "Yeah... she's incredible." The words felt empty, as if they didn't even begin to cover the storm of emotions inside her.

As Earn's final walk down the runway began, Lada's heart clenched. Earn moved with grace, her smile lighting up the room, but all Lada could think about was how much she missed her. The breakfasts they used to share, the quiet nights, the laughter, the little moments that had once been theirs.

Her phone buzzed once more, but this time it was an Instagram notification—Earn's post. A candid shot from backstage, Earn still in her runway outfit, smiling wide, glowing with happiness. The caption read:
"For the ones who believed in me, I couldn't have done this without you. Missing home."

With a deep breath, Lada closed the live stream. Lada missed Earn more than words could say. And no runway show or distance could ever change that.

For now, all she could do was sit there, letting the weight of missing Earn settle in her chest.