Sage Rose Parker, a seventeen almost eighteen year old girl getting ready for college with her two friends.
Having the world on her shoulders and her past in her mind she's down to break.
An alcoholic as a mother and an abusive father in jail didn'...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Echoes Of Yesterday =================================== If I had to describe my past as a memory, I'd say it's a fading photograph. Why? Because it captures moments, Frozen in time, Yet blurred by pain.
A photograph holds smiles, But it also hides tears, Cherished laughter, And the echoes of goodbyes.
It frames the joy before the storm, Yet the shadows linger long after, A reminder of what was lost, And what could never be.
But then I remember, Why I hadn't chosen to forget. Because within every faded edge, There's a story waiting to be told, A reminder of the love That still haunts me ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Hey, aren't you glad I brought you here?" Elijah's voice boomed over the music, his words slightly slurred as he grinned like an idiot. He stumbled beside me, radiating a high-energy buzz that was all too familiar.
"No," I replied flatly, keeping my eyes locked on Sage. She was laughing with someone—Owen. The sight twisted something tight in my gut, a wave of protectiveness washing over me that I couldn't ignore.
"C'mon, man! Live a little!" Elijah nudged me again, oblivious to my rising tension. I gently pushed him away, focusing on the scene before me.
"Look, just give me a second," I muttered, my voice low. "I need to check on Sage."
"Who? Oh! Right, right! Go get her!" Elijah cheered, his attention already drifting back to the crowd. I could hardly blame him. Parties like this had a way of engulfing everyone, but I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that wrapped around me like a vice.
I pushed my way through the throng, each step fueled by a mix of urgency and anxiety. When I finally reached her, the sight of Owen leaning in too close sent a bolt of anger through me. His hand rested on the back of her chair, and Sage smiled up at him, her laughter echoing in my ears like a warning bell.
I could feel my heart pounding, an instinctive urge to protect her surging through me. But as I approached, my heart still racing from Owen's words, I saw her spinning away from him, clutching her phone with an expression that I knew all too well. I had only been gone a few years, but it felt like lifetimes since I'd seen her like this.
"Sage," I said, my voice deeper and more demanding than I intended. The way she turned to me, surprise flashing across her face, brought back a flood of memories.
"Ezra," she breathed, the recognition in her eyes grounding me. But it wasn't enough to erase the tension that hung in the air between us, thick with unspoken words.
"We need to talk," I said, keeping my tone firm. There was no room for debate; I could feel the weight of the past pressing down on us.
"Now?" she shot back, crossing her arms defensively. I noticed how she shielded herself, a wall I'd inadvertently helped build.
"Yeah, now," I pressed, stepping closer despite the apprehension that flickered in her eyes.
"What could you possibly have to say to me after all this time?" she muttered, bitterness lacing her words. I could feel the heat radiating off her, the emotional storm brewing beneath the surface.
My gaze dropped to her hand, where Owen's name lit up the screen. Instinctively, I felt a flash of jealousy burn through me. "Who was that?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady, but the edge crept in.
"What?"
"The guy you were talking to. Owen."
I watched her tense, and I knew then that I had struck a nerve. "What's it to you?" she challenged, her arms tightening around herself, creating even more distance between us.
I didn't flinch. "Don't talk to him again." The words came out as a command, low and unyielding. I couldn't shake the urgency to protect her, but I also couldn't ignore the underlying fear that coiled around my chest.
"Excuse me?" Her disbelief was palpable, and I felt a mix of frustration and anger rise within me.
"Since when do you care who I talk to?" she continued, her voice rising. "You've been gone for years, Ezra. You don't get to come back and tell me what to do."
Her words hit me like a punch, but I fought to maintain my composure. "I care because I know what's out there," I said, my voice quieting, but the intensity still simmering beneath. "There's a lot you don't understand, Sage."
"Oh, is that it? You're here to protect me now? After everything? After you left me behind?" The way she spat those words made my heart ache, guilt washing over me like a wave. I knew I was the reason for her hurt, but that didn't make this any easier.
"I care because I know what's out there," I repeated, trying to keep my resolve steady. "He's dangerous."
"Dangerous?" she echoed, her disbelief ringing hollow in my ears. "He seems perfectly normal to me."
"That's the problem." I snapped, my frustration boiling over. "He seems normal. That's how he gets people to trust him."
I could see the conflict warring in her eyes, anger and confusion swirling together. "Why do you even care?" she pressed, her voice rising with every word. "You walked away, remember? You disappeared without a word, and now you suddenly care about who I talk to?"
For a brief moment, I could see it in her eyes: hurt, betrayal, and something deeper that I wished I could take away. I should have said something, anything to help her understand, but my throat felt tight, and the words wouldn't come.
"I'm trying to protect you," I finally managed, my voice quieter now, but the intensity still coursing through me.
"Well, maybe I don't need your protection anymore," she shot back, taking a step back and putting space between us. My gut twisted at her words, and I fought against the surge of desperation that threatened to pull me under.
"You don't know what you're getting into, Sage." My voice was low, pleading almost. "Just... stay away from him."
Before she could retort, before I could explain further, I turned and walked away, disappearing into the crowd. Each step felt heavy, regret flooding me as I left her standing there. I could still feel her gaze burning into my back, and I knew this wasn't over. Not by a long shot, but she doesn't understand I know Owen, and when I say that I mean the real Owen.
He's known in the underworld-I've heard shit about Owen, he messes with girls' heads. Not in a playful play boy way, but he plays mind games. There's something, You know, the kind that leaves girls messed up. And there are rumors... darker stuff too. But I can't just tell her that. =================================== END OF CHAPTER
I wasn't gonna write anymore tonight but I decided To be nice and bless y'all Ik im so nice (say it. 🔪) also thank Beyoncé y'all
