Love Amidst the Flames

Chap 58

After a warm dinner and a heartfelt conversation with her mother, Engfa declined Mrs. Dine's invitation to stay the night. She smiled in gratitude, bid her mother farewell, and set off to return to the house she once shared with Charlotte. The night was late, and an eerie quiet blanketed the empty streets, making every sound echo in her mind. Engfa drove through the darkness, watching the lights pass by her window with a heavy heart. Her mother's words repeated in her mind, reminding her about love and the importance of cherishing those you hold dear. She thought of Charlotte, remembering her gentle voice, her tender gaze, and the warmth of her embrace, now painfully out of reach.

When she arrived home, Engfa opened the door and stepped into a familiar yet chilly space. Out of habit, she called out Charlotte's name, but the empty house responded only with absolute silence. Every corner still held traces of Charlotte, yet it was void of her presence. Engfa sank into a chair, her shoulders slumping as loneliness overtook her.

Unable to hold back any longer, she began to cry, tears silently rolling down her cheeks. Each night, she had tried to be strong, tried to get used to the absence of the one she loved. But her heart hadn't adapted, hadn't accepted the void left by Charlotte. Every night, Engfa lay on the bed that once belonged to the two of them, feeling the cold seeping around her and wishing for a miracle to bring Charlotte back. She knew she was exhausted and vulnerable, yet couldn't find a way to lessen the aching longing that plagued her mind.

The entire house seemed to sink into darkness along with Engfa's endless sorrow. She knew she had to do something, but the thought of Charlotte only deepened her pain. Her empty arms, the warmth that was now gone, and only memories remained beside her, reminding her of the days filled with happiness that had now become an insatiable longing.

For over a week, Engfa had maintained a rhythm of commuting between the Ministry of Defense and EL Corporation. Each day began early in the morning and ended in the late afternoon, just to manage her responsibilities in both places. Her duties at the Ministry of Defense consumed most of her time, and her work at EL required her undivided attention, as major contracts demanded close supervision.

Days passed, yet Engfa continued to miss Charlotte, who was now in Samui. The image of Charlotte lingered in her mind, bringing back memories of the peaceful days they once shared. But no matter how much she yearned, she could not spare the time to visit Charlotte in Samui. The piled-up work and urgent tasks forced her to silently keep watch from afar, holding onto her memories without relinquishing her duties.

Sitting in her office as the sun set, Engfa could feel the exhaustion settling in. The long days filled with intense work had drained her energy, but she couldn't afford to stop. She knew that once everything at both places was complete, she would be able to go to Samui, to see Charlotte, to finally share all the thoughts she'd been holding onto. But for now, she could only keep up her determined spirit, even though her heart was always drawn to that distant island and the one she loved most.

On an early weekend morning, the café was busier than usual, yet Charlotte still felt an emptiness inside. Though she tried to move on from Engfa, her image continued to haunt Charlotte's thoughts. The sweet memories, the days of happiness together, could not be easily erased.

• "Charlotte, anything special going on today?" Charlotte's close friend, Marima, took a seat near the counter with a radiant smile.

• "Not much, just a bit busier than usual," Charlotte replied, but there was a different feeling in her heart.

• "It seems Engfa hasn't been around for a week now, someone must be missing her, right?" Marima asked playfully.

• "Please, don't mention her," Charlotte sighed, trying to hide her emotions.