The car ride with Mom was quiet. I was replaying everything in my head—Daniel ghosting me for a week, the report, the hospital chaos… and now we were going to GGM’s house. One week later, I was still a mess, and apparently, a letter from GGM was the golden ticket to my sanity.
We arrived and knocked.
Grandpa opened the door with a grin that could melt glaciers.
GF: Hi, princess! How are you?
Mom: Hi, Dad. How are you?
GF: Rough and tough, as usual.
Me: Hi, Grandpa.
GF: Mia, my baby! Come here! It’s been so long.
He enveloped me in a hug, and for a moment, I let myself forget the chaos of the past week.
Me: Great…
GF: Not coming inside?
Me: I just want my letter.
GF: Your grandmother isn’t home. Only she can give you that letter. But you can wait inside—I’ll bring your favorite snack and tea.
Me: I… don’t know if that’s a good idea.
GF: Don’t you want to spend time with your old man?
Me: Okay… fine.
We settled on the sofa. Nothing had changed since GGM passed. I hadn’t been back here since then, and the house felt heavy with memories. Upstairs, I went to the room that had always been mine. Mom and Grandpa followed—I didn’t have the courage to go to GGM’s room.
Me: Nothing’s changed.
Grandpa: Your room will always belong to you.
Me: At least something here is mine.
Grandpa: That’s yours… always will be.
Me: I know you want to talk.
Grandpa: Stella told us about Daniel.
Me: Hmm.
Grandpa: Do you love him?
Me: What?!
Grandpa: You heard me.
Me: I… I don’t know.
Grandpa: That’s how it starts.
Me: Starts what?
Grandpa: Every love story.
Me: We don’t even know each other.
Grandpa: You don’t need to. Love doesn’t work that way.
Me: No. Love is too strong a word. Plus, he’s… weird. One day he’s there, the next he ghosts me. No.
He smiled.
Me: What?
Grandpa: Complaining but not denying. That means you like him. I’m happy for you… but remember, he’s engaged to Stella.
Ugh… why does he always have to be engaged?
The doorbell rang. Grandpa went to open it.
Mom called me over.
Mom: Mia, meet Mr. Daniel Mikelson. He’s here to collect a file from the old library. Can you help him?
Me: WHAT?! A minute, please!
In the kitchen:
Mom: What’s wrong?
Me: You’re sending me with a stranger? Are you my mother?
Mom: He’s a family friend. Grandpa can’t read the old files—his glasses are broken.
Me: Fine.
Daniel: Any problem, Miss?
Mom: No. Mia will show you the old library.
Me: I’ll be honored.
Daniel: Ladies first.
The walk to the library was silent, except for my racing heart.
Me: Do you know the name of the file? There are… a lot of files.
Daniel: Unknown.
Me: Hmm.
Daniel: Am I unknown to you?
Me: Do I know you?
He stepped closer, until we were face-to-face.
Daniel (whispering): I’m the same unknown person you cuddled with.
Me: The same person who ghosted me for a week?
Daniel: Did you miss me, firefly?
Me: No.
Daniel: Liar.
Me: I said no.
I tried to walk away, but he grabbed my wrist.
Me: Leave me.
Daniel: You’re lying. Relax.
Me: Leave me!
Daniel: Never.
Me: I can’t do this.
Daniel: What?
Me: You’re Stella’s fiancé.
Daniel: Does that bother you? Be honest.
I wanted to… but admitting it would hurt too much.
Suddenly, Grandma’s voice cut through.
Grandma: What’s going on here?
Me: We… just came to find a file.
Grandma: Doesn’t seem like it.
I was still in his arms, and he had zero intention of letting go.
Grandma: Let her go!
Me: Please.
His eyes… they changed color.
Grandpa: Calm down… for her.
Finally, Daniel released me.
Grandpa: He’ll explain… just breathe.
I stared at him, confused and frustrated and… something else.
Grandma: When Stella told me, I didn’t believe it. I thought you could be anything… but not a fiancé-stealer.
Grandpa: Bella…
Grandma: What?
Grandpa: We all know this isn’t her fault.
Grandma: It is! Because of her, he’s not with Stella anymore.
Wait… he broke the engagement?
Grandpa: Yes.
Me: Wait, you said we all knew this would happen… what does that mean?
Grandpa: He was never really engaged. They were going to, but he kept making excuses and distancing himself from Stella. We all knew he didn’t like her.
Me: Then why did he agree in the first place?
Grandpa: That’s his story to tell. Come on, let’s see what your mom cooked.
I smiled.
YOU ARE READING
A Eternal Love
WerewolfCompleted Mia roy is twenty, fierce, and unapologetically herself. A college student by day and a rule-follower by nature, she believes in order, simplicity, and doing things her way-within reason. Her life? Predictable. Peaceful. Exactly how she l...
