The Heart's Quite Beginning

Chapter 17: A Walk Home

The festival buzzed around me like a swarm of happy bees, with laughter and music filling the air. Food stalls lined the streets, each one bursting with colorful offerings. The smell of roasted corn wafted through the crowd, mingling with the sweet scent of funnel cakes dusted in powdered sugar. I could hear the sizzling of sausages and the laughter of children chasing after balloons. It was all so alive, so vibrant, and I couldn't help but smile.

I was having a blast, really. I stood at a stall, holding a warm, buttery ear of corn. As I took a bite, the sweetness burst on my tongue, and I savored the simple pleasure of it. "This is the best corn I've ever had!" I exclaimed, wiping a buttery hand on my jeans.

"I know, right?" Nova replied, her mouth full as she munched on a fried doughnut topped with rainbow sprinkles. "This is pure happiness on a plate!"

Iris stood nearby, balancing a heaping plate of nachos. "And these nachos! They've got everything—cheese, jalapenos, even guacamole. If I could marry food, this would be it!" She grinned, taking a triumphant bite.

"Are you proposing?" Nova joked, wiggling her eyebrows.

"Only if it's a nacho wedding! I'm not settling for anything less," Iris shot back, laughing.

We kept wandering, sampling everything from cotton candy that melted in our mouths to spicy tacos that made my eyes water. The joy in the air was infectious, and I found myself laughing more than I had in weeks. Each bite of food felt like a little celebration, a piece of happiness shared among friends.

But as the sun dipped lower, casting a golden hue over everything, a wave of fatigue washed over me. My eyelids felt heavy, and the excitement of the day began to catch up with me.

"Okay, I'm officially stuffed!" Iris declared, wiping crumbs from her mouth as she leaned back against the stall. "What do you think about checking out the talent show?"

I hesitated, glancing at the glowing lights and swirling colors of the festival. It all looked so inviting, but I could feel my energy waning. "I think I'm going to head home. I need sleep," I admitted, forcing a smile to hide my fatigue.

"Aw, come on!" Nova pouted, her big eyes pleading with me. "We can't leave yet! The talent show is going to be epic! Remember last year? The singing cat?" She giggled, the memory making her bounce on her toes.

I shook my head, feeling a mix of guilt and understanding. "Seriously, I'll be a zombie tomorrow if I don't get some rest. I'll catch the talent show next year."

With that I started walking away, I felt a bittersweet pang in my heart. I turned back one last time, watching my friends laugh and joke as they prepared to head toward the stage. It felt good to be part of something so joyful, yet I knew that heading home would be a comfort too.

Just as I turned the corner, I heard a familiar voice call out, "Lia!" I spun around to see Ethan jogging up to me, his face lit with that easy smile I found so comforting. It felt like a little piece of sunshine cutting through the night.

"Hey! What are you doing here?" I asked, feigning surprise even though I secretly loved it. My heart skipped a beat at the sight of him, and a little thrill ran through me.

"Iris said you were going home. I thought I'd walk you," he said, falling into step beside me. "It's dark, and the village is pretty empty now."

His presence felt so reassuring, like a warm blanket on a chilly night. The streets were quieter now, the festival sounds fading into the background, replaced by the soft crunch of gravel beneath our feet. It was a peaceful moment, just the two of us under the stars.

"Did you enjoy the food?" Ethan asked, his eyes sparkling with that playful curiosity that always made me feel a little giddy.

"I think I might have gained five pounds," I laughed, recalling the array of treats we had sampled. "But totally worth it. Those apple cider donuts were divine."