A WISH FOR OUR NEXT LIFE

𝟑. 𝐔𝐧𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬

Moon's POV:

I walked back to my room, my mind swirling with thoughts of the encounter with Elanor. The image of her clutching that worn-out wallet like it was the only thing tethering her to reality wouldn't leave me. Her quiet, almost fragile voice kept echoing in my ears, and the way she spoke, the weight behind her words-it was haunting. I don't have many people to count on. That phrase, in particular, clung to me, stirring something deep inside. There was a hidden depth to it, a shadow she hadn't fully revealed. What was she carrying with her, so heavy and burdensome, yet invisible to everyone else?

By the time I reached my door, the weight of that conversation was still pressing on me. Inside, Lene was already sprawled across her bed, lazily scrolling through her phone, her feet dangling off the edge. She glanced up as I walked in, one eyebrow arching slightly.

"So, did you return it?" she asked, her voice casual as though she had already moved on from the entire episode.

"Yeah," I muttered, trying to shake the fog of Elanor from my thoughts.

Lene rolled onto her side, curiosity sparking in her eyes as she propped her head up on her hand. "And? How'd it go? Was she weird? Cool? Did she thank you or just awkwardly shuffle off into the distance?"

I shrugged, feeling the weight of the encounter settle over me once more as I dropped my bag to the floor. "She thanked me, but... I don't know. There's something off about her. She's... guarded."

Lene let out a loud, exaggerated sigh, rolling her eyes dramatically as she tossed her phone aside. "Guarded? Moon, she dropped her wallet, probably thought she'd lost everything important in it. I'd be freaked out too. Anyone would."

I shook my head, sinking down onto the edge of my bed, staring at the floor. "No, it's not just that. It's like... she's carrying something heavier. Like, emotionally. There's more to it, I can feel it."

Lene sat up fully now, her curiosity piqued. "You're overthinking it again. It's just a lost wallet, not some big mystery. Maybe she's just shy or had a rough day. Not everyone's hiding a tragic backstory, Moon."

I wanted to agree with her, to write it off as just another one of my overactive imaginations. But something deep inside told me it wasn't that simple. There was a nagging feeling, a tug in my gut that I couldn't shake. It was more than just a rough day for Elanor. I could feel it in the way she held herself, in her words that felt so carefully chosen, like she was afraid to let too much slip.

"Maybe," I murmured, leaning back on my bed and staring at the ceiling. "I just... don't know."

A silence fell over the room, the kind that hummed with unspoken thoughts and half-formed theories. The only sound was the occasional buzz of Lene's phone, but even that felt distant. My mind was elsewhere, miles away, wandering back to the strange look in Elanor's eyes. Who was she really? And why couldn't I stop thinking about her?

...
.
..
.

The next day, I decided to push thoughts of Elanor aside. I had enough on my plate already, trying to figure out my own path, my potential, my future. Getting caught up in someone else's mystery was the last thing I needed. Lene was probably right-I had a tendency to overthink things, to create problems where there were none. And Elanor's life wasn't any of my business.

But fate had other plans.

That afternoon, as I was heading to the locker room, I spotted Elanor standing in the hallway. She was leaning against the wall, her posture slumped, her yellow eyes scanning the crowd but not really seeing it. She looked... disconnected, like she was trying to fade into the background, hoping no one would notice her.

Before I knew it, I was walking toward her, my heart thudding louder with each step. She didn't notice me until I was right in front of her. When she did, there was a flicker of surprise in her eyes, like she hadn't expected anyone to approach.

"Hey," I said, trying to keep my tone casual. "You okay?"

She blinked, her expression guarded as always. "Oh... yeah. I'm fine."

But her voice was too quiet, too strained. It told a different story.

I leaned against the wall beside her, crossing my arms. "You don't look fine."

Elanor glanced away, her fingers nervously brushing a strand of her black hair behind her ear. "It's nothing. Just... a lot on my mind."

I could sense she was holding back, hiding something. I wanted to ask more, to dig deeper, but I held back. If she wanted to talk, she would. Instead, I offered her a small smile. "Well, if you ever want to talk, I'm around."

For a moment, I thought she might just brush me off again, like she had the day before. But then, something shifted in her expression-like she was on the verge of saying something. Her lips parted, but before she could speak, a loud, angry voice cut through the hallway.

"Elanor!"

I turned to see a tall guy storming toward us, his face twisted with anger. He had a swagger about him that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Instinctively, I tensed up.

Elanor's face went pale. Her entire body shrank, her fingers gripping the strap of her bag so tightly her knuckles turned white.

The guy stopped right in front of us, his eyes darting between me and Elanor, full of raw hostility. "You think you can just ignore me now? After everything?"

My stomach sank. What was this?

"Elanor, you can't just walk away," he growled, his voice low and threatening. "You know what'll happen if you do."

Elanor's eyes dropped to the ground, her shoulders hunched. "Please, not here. Just... leave me alone."

He sneered, stepping closer. "You're not getting rid of me that easily."

Before I could stop myself, I stepped in front of Elanor, blocking his path. "Hey, back off. She asked you to leave her alone."

The guy's eyes flicked to me, his expression darkening with amusement. "And who the hell are you? Her new protector?"

"I'm her friend," I said firmly, though the truth of that was still unclear to me. "And I don't think she wants to deal with you right now."

His eyes narrowed dangerously, and for a moment, I thought he might hit me. But then he let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "Fine. But this isn't over, Elanor."

With that, he turned and stormed off, disappearing into the sea of students. I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding, turning back to Elanor. She was still standing there, looking shaken, her face pale and her hands trembling.

"Are you okay?" I asked softly.

She nodded, but the tension in her shoulders told a different story. "I'm sorry you had to see that."

"Don't apologize," I said gently. "Who was that guy?"

Elanor hesitated, biting her lip. "Someone I used to know... a long time ago. It's complicated."

I could tell she didn't want to talk about it, but my curiosity was now burning brighter than ever. The way that guy had spoken, the words he'd used-You know what'll happen if you do-sent a chill down my spine. What had Elanor gotten herself into?

"You don't have to tell me," I said softly. "But if you ever need help... I'm here."

She gave me a small, sad smile, one that barely reached her eyes. "Thanks, Moon. I mean it."

And with that, she turned and walked away, disappearing into the crowd, leaving me standing there with more questions than answers. But one thing was clear: Elanor was in trouble. And somehow, I knew I wasn't going to be able to just walk away from it.