A Love Rekindled

Chapter 12

It had been days since Wednesday's last talk with Tyler, but his words still echoed in her mind, surfacing in quiet moments when she least wanted them.

Every time she thought she might find some semblance of calm, some way to push past the lingering ache in her chest, she'd catch a glimpse of Enid and Damon.

There was Enid, laughing softly as Damon whispered something to her, his arm draped casually around her shoulders.

And there was that radiant smile she used to know so well, directed now at someone else. No matter how much Wednesday tried to ignore it, the pain inside her only grew sharper.

She barely noticed when Tyler settled down beside her, his voice cutting through her trance.

"Hey," he said gently, leaning close. "You okay?"

Wednesday's gaze flickered away from Enid and Damon.

"Yeah," she muttered, though her tone betrayed her.

Tyler didn't buy it. He followed her gaze back to the pair across the room, his brow creasing with concern.

"Doesn't seem like it," he murmured, keeping his voice low.

Her eyes dropped to her barely touched plate, and she made a halfhearted attempt at her food, pushing a few pieces around.

But the truth gnawed at her, leaving her appetite in shreds. She could feel Tyler watching her, could almost sense the unspoken encouragement in his silence.

"It's just hard," she finally admitted, her voice soft but laced with frustration. "How am I supposed to move on when I have to see them together every single day?"

Tyler gave her a sympathetic smile, his voice quiet but resolute.

"I know it hurts. But... isn't this what you wanted? For Enid to be happy?"

The words hung in the air, and Wednesday felt them echo in the empty part of herself she'd tried so hard to ignore.

It was true that she had wanted that for Enid. She'd wanted her to find someone who would treat her well, who could give her everything she herself had failed to.

But seeing it in reality was different. It cut deeper than she'd anticipated, hollowing her out with each lingering glance she couldn't help but steal.

It didn't matter how much she tried to convince herself that this was for the best. She couldn't erase the gnawing sense of regret that burned whenever she saw Enid with someone else.

"I... I need some air," she said abruptly, rising from her seat with her usual composure. "I lost my appetite."

Tyler watched her go as she made her way out of the dining hall, her footsteps echoing down the long corridors as she sought refuge in the solitude of her dorm.

Classes passed in a daze, her thoughts wandering no matter how she tried to pull herself back into the present.

The afternoon was wearing on when she and Tyler left the last classroom, his attempt at casual conversation breaking through her reverie.

"I could go for an iced tea. You want one?"

She shook her head, not even glancing up as she quickened her pace.

"I need to finish my novel," she mumbled, eager for the distraction, anything to take her mind off the thoughts that had been plaguing her.

Inside her dorm, she settled at her desk, fingers finding their rhythm on her typewriter as she dove into her story.