Beyond The Lie

Chapter 67: Paralyzed

Adeline.

July 17th

I slumped against the back of my chair, letting out a deep sigh. It had been one week since the carnival, and the memories still lingered in my mind like a lingering headache.

I'd gotten caught up in work and was now eating lunch alone in my cabin. The team had already finished theirs, and the silence felt oppressive. I gazed out the window, watching as the summer heat waves danced across the lush green trees.

My fingers drummed against the table, restless. I needed something to fill the silence, to distract me from my thoughts. I reached for my phone and scrolled through Spotify, searching for a song that fit my mood.

"The Night We Met" by Lord Huron began to play, its melancholic melody filling the cabin. I closed my eyes, letting the music wash over me.

At first, I'd thought I'd choose a happier love song, but something about this one resonated with me. It was like the song had reached into my chest and wrapped itself around my heart.

My mind drifted to Eryx, and I felt a pang of longing. Memories of our time together flooded my thoughts - the way he'd smiled at me, the way he'd held my hand.

I thought about how we'd fought, how we'd argued. But beneath all that tension, we'd found happiness in each other's company. And even in the midst of all that chaos, our love had been real.

The song's lyrics echoed through my mind:

"I had all and then most of you
Some and now none of you..."

My heart ached, and I wondered what Eryx was doing at that moment. Was he thinking of me, too?

I thought about how I'd had a chance with him, how I'd let my fears and doubts get in the way. And now, I was sitting here alone, without him in my life. It was a painful realization - we'd both let our chance at love slip away.

The song's refrain repeated itself: "Take me back to the night we met..." I felt a lump form in my throat as I thought about that night, about the way Eryx had looked at me, the way I'd felt alive in his presence.

Our first meeting had been a total disaster. But somehow, things had shifted, and now...now I couldn't stop thinking about him. Wondering if he'd ever come back, if we'd ever get another chance at this thing between us.

I wished for it, really wished for it. The carnival night came flooding back - the way he'd looked at me, all intense and emotional. There hadn't been any words, just this...this feeling that had hung in the air, like a challenge or something.

It had been kinda overwhelming, to be honest. I'd felt like I was drowning in his eyes. But now...now all I wanted was to hug him, to feel his arms around me, to just be with him.

But that was either a distant memory or some uncertain future thing...I had no idea. The thought hurt, like, actually hurt.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm down, but it wasn't working. This ache inside me just kept growing, reminding me of what I'd lost, and what I might never have again.

***

I dragged myself into our apartment, feeling utterly drained from a day of work that had been totally consumed by thoughts of Eryx. I just couldn't seem to get him out of my head, no matter how hard I tried.

As I walked into my room, my eyes landed on the stuffed sheep sitting on my bed, its goofy grin a total contrast to my crummy mood. I remembered that night at the carnival, how Eryx had won it for me, and how he'd handed it over with this adorable smile, saying I'd wanted it more than he did.