Eternal Promises (Book 1 Of: Eternal Emotions)

Shattered Trust

The festival was winding down, slowly folding into the quiet of the evening. As the last of the lights flickered overhead, Aria ducked behind a booth, avoiding the festival-goers as they gathered their families and belongings. The chatter of laughter and excitement faded into a distant hum, and all she could hear was her own heartbeat, echoing loud in her ears. She felt raw, like a wound freshly torn open, and each breath felt as heavy as stone. She leaned against the wooden structure, feeling the coolness of the earth seep through her shoes, grounding her in reality. Aria clenched her fists, staring at her camera, wishing it would provide some kind of relief from the emotional battlefield inside her head. The shots she'd taken today felt tainted. Every vibrant moment captured now reminded her of Liam and how she had pushed him away when all he wanted was to connect. "Why do you always have to be so negative?" he had asked, frustration lining his voice. As if he knew the storm brewing beneath her surface. But letting people in was a hell of a lot harder than he seemed to think. She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. This day was supposed to be about happiness, laughter, and memories. Yet, here she was, hiding in the shadows, wrestling with the ghost of her past. The voices outside faded, and she closed her eyes, letting her breath steady as she recalled the echoes of anger and humiliation she'd tried so hard to bury. A memory surfaced, uninvited, dragging her back to a time when the world felt infinitely more treacherous.

**Flashback**

"Don't you dare walk away from me!" Her father's voice echoed through the dimly lit living room, the timber walls vibrating with the force of his words. Aria was eight years old, sitting at the edge of the worn-out couch and clutching her knees to her chest. On the wall, a fading picture of a family vacation stared back at her, the smiles in the photograph feeling like a distant memory. She could see him across the room, his face flushed with a mix of anger and disappointment that made her stomach twist into knots. "Where do you think you're going?" he yelled, fists clenched at his sides. She froze, her breath hitching in her throat as she recalled that horrible day." I—I just want to go to my room," she stammered, hoping to defuse his anger. "Go to your room?" he seethed, rage boiling over as he strode toward her, each step heavy with unspoken threats. "You think you can just ignore me? How many times do I have to tell you to stop acting like such a little brat?" "Please, I didn't mean to—" she started, but he cut her off, his voice rising higher. "Didn't mean to what? Disgrace me? You're a total failure, you know that? Always screwing up!" The venom in his voice cut through her like a knife. "I'm sick of your pathetic whining! Why can't you be normal for once? "Aria felt her heart pound, panic rising as he continued unleashing his fury. "You're useless! You think your little art projects matter? They don't! You're just wasting my time! "Tears streamed down her cheeks as she pressed her hands to her face, each insult cutting deeper than the last. "You don't understand..." she whispered, desperation creeping into her voice. "Understand? What's there to understand about you? You're just a stupid kid who thinks the world revolves around her! Newsflash: it doesn't!" He leaned closer, invading her personal space, the heat of his anger washing over her like a suffocating blanket. Aria wanted to shrink away, to disappear, but she was cornered. "I can't take this anymore," he growled, each word thick with disdain. "You're making my life miserable with your incompetence. Can't you see how hard it is for me to deal with you?" "Just go to your room before I fucking lose it." he spat on her, the last words striking like a blow to her already wounded spirit. Aria scrambled to her feet, feeling the rush of hurt burn on her skin. She stumbled down the hallway and retreated to the safety of her bedroom, the door slamming shut behind her like a barricade against chaos. As she sank against the door, her body shook with silent sobs. The world around her felt surreal and hollow, echoes of her father's rage still reverberating within her. Why did he always explode this way? Why did everything seem to spiral out of control when she just wanted a moment of peace? The suffocating weight of despair was almost tangible as she held her breath. She remembered the countless times she had tried to please him, to be the perfect daughter, but it was never enough. No matter how hard she tried, disappointment hung over her like a dark cloud.

**End Flashback**

The sounds of laughter from outside pulled her back to the present, and she leaned her head against the cool wood of the booth, feeling the sting of tears well up in her eyes. That memory had slashed her heart wide open, and she couldn't shake off the weight of those past moments. "Look at you, sitting behind a booth like a coward," she scolded herself quietly, wiping the tears that threatened to spill. The laughter from the festival seemed to mock her; every joyous noise reminded her of what she had lost—what she could never truly have. Liam's image and voice flickered in her mind, and she felt an additional pang of regret. He had offered her friendship and understanding, but she had slammed the door shut in his face. The bittersweet sting of what could have been wrapped around her heart like a vice. "Maybe it's better this way," she murmured, forcing herself to believe it. It was safer to be alone, to hide behind walls that kept out even the kindest of souls. The last thing she wanted was to put herself in a position to be hurt, to feel that raw, aching vulnerability again. "Focus, Aria," she whispered, shaking her head as if to physically dislodge the memories. There was no place in her heart for emotional entanglements, not now and maybe not ever. She stepped out from behind the booth, determined to blend back into the throng of people milling around. The vibrant colors and lights whirred around her, a stark contrast to the dull ache within. She felt as though she was walking through a dream where she didn't belong, and the laughter felt alien, almost painful. As she navigated through the crowd, she spotted a little girl with pigtails bouncing up and down in excitement, holding a glittering balloon. A smile broke out on her face, pure and untainted. For a fleeting moment, Aria felt a pang of warmth as she remembered her own childhood innocence, a time before everything had been clouded with pain. But the warmth quickly faded, replaced by an icy wave of reality. She wouldn't allow herself to be drawn in. No more nostalgia. Not now. Aria wandered through the festival, her gaze drifting to the various booths and food stalls. The sweet smell of cotton candy and funnel cakes filled the air, mixing with the sounds of joyful screaming from the rides. As she watched families laugh and children play, the weight of her loneliness grew heavier, leaving her gasping for breath. She found a bench in a quieter area, away from the crowded chaos. Sitting down, she closed her eyes, letting the noise wash over her like a wave. "What do I want?" she thought. "What do I really want?" Somewhere deep inside, she felt a flicker of yearning for connection, for the simple joy of being part of something. Moments flicked through her mind—the laughter of friends, the shared stories, the warmth of understanding. But with each bright flash of memory, the shadows loomed larger, reminding her of the risks involved. In that moment of internal battle, she resolved to put one foot in front of the other. She had to remind herself that vulnerability was not synonymous with weakness. Her past was a part of her, but it didn't have to define her future. As she slowly opened her eyes, she saw Liam in the distance, laughing with some friends—his smile genuine and bright. It pierced through her defenses like light penetrating fog. She felt that old familiar urge to reach out, to connect, but the instinctive response was strong to retreat back behind the barrier she had constructed around her heart. Maybe it was time to stop running. Maybe she could find the strength to face her fears, to navigate her past without letting it shackle her to hopelessness. As she took her first step back toward the crowd, she felt lighter, ready to leave the echoes of her past behind, however momentarily. The barrier in her heart felt a little less solid, a little more open to possibility. The night held promise, and for the first time in a long time, she felt ready to face it. But just as she began to move forward, an unexpected force slammed into her, sending her sprawling onto the ground. The world spun violently around her, and she gasped, trying to comprehend what had just happened. It was as if a shadow had launched itself at her, disorienting and surreal. She hit the pavement hard, pain shooting through her body like electricity. The noise around her shifted, transitioning from festive to chaotic. People screamed. Bright lights flashed, blinding her momentarily. "What—?" she managed to gasp, her voice barely a whisper in the din of confusion. Confused faces surrounded her, their expressions shifting from joy to concern in an instant. And before she could make sense of the whirlwind of movement and sound, everything began to blur. The last flickers of color around her faded to dull greys, and as she registered the sensation of cold pavement against her skin, lethargy seeped into her bones. Darkness enveloped her like a heavy cloak pulling her down into stillness. Disjointed voices echoed in the void, but they were distant, like whispers from another realm. Time stretched in the haze, and the last thing she felt was the cold pavement beneath her, an unyielding reminder of both her vulnerability and the harshness of the world surrounding her. 

Then, silence.

New chapters added to "Eternal Promises" everyday! Check it out everyday before midnight (EST) for a new chapter before you fall asleep. Enjoy some simple, theatrical romance, comedy, and tragedy between these two enemies-to-lovers in our newest book.