Summer night

The Accident, Chapter six── ✿

𓇼 ⋆.˚ 𓆉 𓆝 𓆡⋆.˚ 𓇼

Coraline stayed up all night, staring at her phone, her unsent message to Sarah glowing on the screen. She felt a deep emptiness and loneliness that seemed to swallow her whole. The hours dragged on, and she couldn't bring herself to hit send. The words felt inadequate, unable to capture the turmoil inside her.

As the first rays of the sun began to peep through her window, she felt completely lost. The soft light illuminated her room, casting long shadows and highlighting the disarray around her. Clothes were strewn across the floor, and a half-empty cup of tea sat forgotten on her nightstand. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions, each one more confusing than the last.

She sighed deeply, feeling the weight of exhaustion and uncertainty pressing down on her. She knew she needed to talk to someone, but the fear of what might come next kept her paralyzed. The silence of the early morning was both comforting and suffocating, a stark contrast to the chaos in her mind.

Coraline took a deep breath, trying to gather her thoughts. She knew she couldn't stay in this limbo forever. With trembling hands, she finally typed out a simple message to

Coraline: I need to talk. Can we meet up?

She hesitated for a moment, then hit send. As the message went through, she felt a small sense of relief. It wasn't much, but it was a step forward. She hoped that talking to Sarah would help her find some clarity and support.

For now, she decided to get up and start her day, hoping that the routine would help ground her. She made her way to the bathroom, splashing cold water on her face and looking at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were red and puffy from lack of sleep, and she felt a pang of sadness seeing herself so worn out. "You can do this," she whispered to herself, trying to muster some courage.

She brushed her teeth and ran a brush through her hair, trying to make herself feel a bit more human. The familiar routine brought a small sense of normalcy, even if it was fleeting. She changed into a comfortable outfit, something that made her feel a little more put together.

As she walked into the kitchen, the house was still and quiet. She made herself a cup of tea, the warmth of the mug soothing her hands. She sat at the kitchen table, staring out the window at the slowly brightening sky. The world outside seemed so calm and peaceful, a stark contrast to the storm inside her.

Her phone buzzed, breaking the silence. It was a message from Sarah:

Sarah: Of course. Where do you want to meet?

Coraline felt a wave of relief wash over her. She quickly typed back:

Coraline: How about the café on Main Street? Right now?

Sarah's response was immediate:

Sarah: Sounds good. See you there.

Coraline took another deep breath, feeling a bit more grounded. She finished her tea, savoring the warmth and the brief moment of peace it brought. She knew the conversation with Sarah wouldn't be easy, but she felt a glimmer of hope that it might help her find some clarity. She grabbed her bag and keys, ready to face whatever came next.

Coraline fidgeted with her phone, her fingers tracing the edge of the table as she glanced anxiously at the clock. Twenty-five minutes had already passed, each tick of the second hand echoing in her mind. The morning sun filtered through the café windows, casting long shadows across the empty streets outside, while the aroma of fresh coffee mingled with the hum of conversation from the early risers.