Echoes of Yesterday

Part 33 - Finding Light Together

As we walked away from the prison, the tension in the air lingered like a heavy fog. Theo's phone buzzed, and he glanced at the screen, his brow furrowing. "I have to take this," he said, stepping aside to answer the call. I could hear the low murmur of his voice as he spoke to his dad, but it felt distant, as if I were underwater.

Eric stood beside me, the weight of the day pressing on both of us. After a few moments, Theo hung up, running a hand through his hair. "I had some work with my dad," he said, his tone apologetic. "I need to leave."

"Are you okay?" I asked, concern etching my voice. I didn't want him to feel like he had to leave when we all needed each other right now.

"Yeah, I'll be fine. Just... you know how it is. I'll check in later, okay?" He gave me a reassuring smile, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. I nodded, grateful for his support, even if it was brief.Once Theo walked away, I turned to Eric, who was watching me intently. "You okay?" he asked, his voice low and soothing.

"Yeah, just a lot to process," I replied. "It feels like everything is unraveling, and I'm just... lost.""Let's go somewhere quiet," he suggested, his hand slipping into mine. "Somewhere we can talk without all the noise."

I nodded, feeling the warmth of his grip envelop my worries, and we began to walk farther away from the city. The streets grew quieter, the hustle and bustle fading into a serene stillness. Eventually, we found a secluded park, where the trees whispered above us, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

As we settled onto a bench beneath the canopy of leaves, Eric looked at me thoughtfully. "Darling," he said, his voice almost a whisper, "Do you know what I would tell my daughter when she becomes a teenager?"

I leaned in, intrigued by his words. "What would you say?"

He took a deep breath, his gaze softening. "I'd say, 'Go into a relationship only when you truly understand what love is.' Your mom and I, we're an example of that. And if you find someone like me, just go love him. But remember, love is beautiful, but it can also hurt."

As he spoke, I felt a pang in my chest, realizing that while a boy might leave and come back, thinking only one chapter of their story was affected, when a girl leaves, it means she reconsiders the entire narrative of their shared history and the future that could have been. My heart swelled at his words, the vulnerability of the moment washing over me. "That's wise advice."

I looked into Eric's eyes, searching for the kindness and understanding I had come to rely on. "Do you really believe that?"

"I do," he said softly. "It's all about understanding yourself and knowing your worth. And I want you to know your worth, Daisy."

A lump formed in my throat, the weight of his affection overwhelming me. "Thank you, Eric. For everything."

He smiled, that comforting warmth radiating between us. "You don't have to thank me. I'm here for you, no matter what. Always."

In that peaceful moment, I realized how much I needed this conversation, how Eric's presence was like a beacon guiding me through the storm. As we sat there, hands intertwined, I felt a flicker of hope igniting within me, a promise of brighter days ahead, despite the shadows that lingered in my heart.

I took a deep breath, my heart heavy with the weight of my words. "But Eric, even I wasn't good enough. I pushed Tristan away when all I wanted was to not talk to him in that moment. I thought that would protect me, but it only made things worse."