Heart of Stone

Hi

After retrieving Luna from the police vehicle and wholeheartedly thanking the officer and fireman, she returned to her parked SUV. She let Luna into the back and then climbed back into the driver's seat. She leaned her forehead on the steering wheel and let out a shuddering sob. She had to collect herself, but the cracking inside her chest wouldn't be ignored.

Luna whined from the backseat and put her front paws on the center console. She nosed her way under Eloise's arm and licked her cheek. At that, Eloise smiled.

"At the very least, I will always have you." She whispered, leaning back and petting the dog.

She wiped the tears from her face and took a deep breath. This wasn't the end. She had made it this far in life. No matter what, tomorrow would arrive, and with it the opportunity to start again. This may knock her down, and she may have to start over, but she would do it.

Starting her car again, she pulled away from the curb and turned her vehicle around. She didn't quite know where she was going, but she needed to get away from here. She needed to go someplace away from the public, away from prying eyes, the social anxiety too much for her to shoulder right now.

With a sigh, she found herself heading towards her parent's house. The only other place she could have gone was Juliana's house, but she was currently at the shop and there would be no one there. She just hoped her mother would be in better shape today than she was the last time she'd been there.

The drive seemed shorter than usual, her mind caught up in a whirlwind of thoughts she could barely keep at bay, her eyes never fully drying. When she pulled into the driveway, however, seeing that house before her, full of the ghosts of her childhood, a resolve hardened in her. She had survived this place, she had made it out, and she wasn't going to come crawling back to it with her tail between her legs. She still had her place, her money, her shop, her dog. She could start again and rebuild. Perhaps she'd even do something bigger and better.

She turned the vehicle off and took a deep breath, hoping her father was home. She stepped out, letting Luna out of the back, and approached the front door. The door was unlocked so she entered, closing the door behind the dog who did her customary sweep of the immediate area.

She followed Eloise faithfully into the kitchen, where she put down her keys on the marble countertop with a clatter.

"Eloise?" Her father's voice came as he entered the kitchen.

"Hey, dad." She said, her voice flat and lifeless.

Concern came over his features when she turned to face him, her eyes puffy from crying and her nose still red.

"Eloise, what happened? Are you alright?" He asked in alarm, coming over to her.

"Yeah, I'll be fine. My garden burned down." She answered as she busied herself making some tea.

"What? How did that happen?" He asked, brows furrowing.

"I don't know. I came home and there were firefighters and police officers." She waved her hand dismissively.

"Is that why you're here, or did Alexander Pearson call you?" He asked.

"Uh...no." She said in confusion, thinking he couldn't possibly know she'd spoken on the phone with him.

"I'm sorry to tell you this when you're already so upset, but he called me. We're having a meeting here at the house at 3:30." He explained.

Eloise paused, glancing at him with incredulous brown eyes. She didn't know how this situation could possibly get any worse, but she felt nearly ready to throw all of her secrets into the wind. She didn't have the energy or the capacity to carry them anymore. They'd become too heavy.