𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐞𝐰 / robin buckley ★

chapter one

It had been some time since Evangeline had stepped away from her now painfully empty house.

Though her mother, Abigail, was still physically present, the Marshall residence had become a shadow of its former self in the wake of her father's death. The vibrant laughter and warmth that once filled the rooms were replaced by an oppressive silence, leaving Evangeline feeling as if the very walls were closing in around her. She could see the toll it had taken on her mother, who struggled to navigate the sudden, jarring changes. The signs were evident in every corner of their lives.

Evangeline knew her mother was struggling. The mornings spent carefully styling her hair, a ritual that had once brought her joy and confidence had stopped completely. Now, her naturally curly locks lay in an untamed mat. The kitchen, once the heart of their home, had grown cold and uninviting. She hardly touched the recipes she used to whip up for their small family, leaving her to survive on a diet of microwavable meals and toasties for the past five months.

As much as it pained her to admit, Evangeline wasn't entirely surprised when her mother announced she was returning to London. It stung, of course, to realise that she was now utterly alone. This wasn't the first time her mother had retreated into herself as she was often seeking refuge from the overwhelming stress of her job at the hospital back home. Abigail often escaped to friends' houses for a much-needed break, and the pattern had become all too familiar. Evangeline had grown accustomed to her mother's absence, but this time felt different-more final, more isolating.

Determined to reclaim a sense of normalcy, Evangeline resolved to start fresh, both figuratively and literally. She decided to visit the newly opened Starcourt Mall in Hawkins, hoping a little retail therapy might lift her spirits. Slipping into a well-worn Commodores band tee, Evangeline tucked it neatly into a flowy cream-coloured skirt that ended just above her ankles and finished off her outfit with a pair of comfortable trainers. Adding the final touches, she pulled her long, brown hair into a messy plait. Dressed and ready, she left the house somewhat optimistic for the day ahead of her.

Fortunately, Evangeline's home was just a quick ten-minute walk from the mall, making the journey feel effortless. A refreshing chill hung in the air while the blue sky shone brilliantly forming pretty shadows along the pathway. She had to admit, it was a rather beautiful day to go out on a walk.

Though no matter how hard she tried, her mind refused to stay still. She thought about her mother, about London, and about the void that seemed to follow her everywhere. The idea of being truly alone gnawed at her, though she had learned to push it down, just as she did now. There was something liberating about being away from the house. Under the open sky, there was space to breathe, space to think about something other than grief. Something she hadn't done in a while.

She could now make out the bright neon sign of Starcourt mall in the distance, flickering like a beacon. As she neared, she could feel the buzz of human activity. The closer she got, the louder the sounds of the mall became-the distant chatter, the clinking of store doors opening and closing, and the occasional burst of laughter.

Pushing the large glass doors of the entrance open, the cool rush of air-conditioning hit her and she took a deep breath. For a brief moment, she was overwhelmed by the energy of the place-the brightness, the noise, the feeling that life here was moving on without hesitation. It was almost too much, too fast. But that was why she'd come, wasn't it? To escape the suffocating silence.

Evangeline looked around, scanning the bustling mall. People were everywhere-teenagers huddled in groups, families walking hand-in-hand, and couples laughing as they browsed store windows. A pang of something-jealousy, maybe-flickered inside her. She had always been part of something before, and now it felt as though she were watching from the outside.