My Enigma

Chapter Twenty-Six

Hello there!

Sorry for the long wait my lovelies, I was going through something that really affected my writing but I am back now and looking forward to continuing Aurora's story.

If you are still here, thank you so much for your patience and support.

Enjoy :)

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Auroras POV

The sky was already melting into amber and rose by the time Mom and I pulled into the driveway, the soft hum of the car's engine the only sound between us. The drive home had been calm and comfortable with a new playlist. Mum insisted I try to listen to it and give her my honest opinion. Slow, acoustic songs filled the space, delicate guitar strings and breathy vocals threading between our quiet conversation. It was different, but I really liked it. I did not doubt I would because she has really good taste in stuff. I am yet to be disappointed.

I kicked off my boots at the door and dropped my bag on the hallway bench. My body felt weightless, like I'd finally shrugged off a coat that had grown too heavy. My head didn't ache with overthinking, and my heart wasn't tangled up in knots. For the first time in a long time, I wasn't drowning in what-ifs or trying to decode silence.

I was okay, at least for now.

"I'll start dinner in a bit," Mom called from the kitchen, already rummaging through the fridge. "You want to help me?"

"Absolutely," I said, tugging my hair into a loose bun as I climbed the stairs to my room. "Call me when you're ready."

My room greeted me like an old friend: cool, still, familiar. I cracked the window wider to let in the dusk breeze and let myself flop onto the bed. The comforter rustled beneath me as I stretched out, arms above my head, breathing deeply.

It was strange, this peace. It wasn't loud or flashy or overwhelming. It was simple and soft, like the world had finally exhaled, and I breathed with it.

I rolled onto my stomach, pulled my journal from my bag, and flipped to a clean page. The pen hovered for a second before it found the words.

"Today felt different. Not perfect, but different. I didn't wait to be seen. I didn't shrink myself. Didn't tiptoe around someone else's silence. I laughed. I let go. And for the first time in weeks... I felt like myself again."

I tapped the pen against my lip and kept writing.

"Luke looked at me twice, maybe three times. And I didn't care. Not in a bitter way. I don't know. I just know I didn't need it. I didn't need him to validate anything but honestly it just feels like i am just consoling myself and really trying to believe the words I just wrote."

A soft chime from my phone lit up the corner of my eye.

I glanced at the screen.

Luke: You seemed different today.

I stared at the message for a long moment. Not because I didn't know how to respond, but because I wasn't sure I wanted to.

He noticed.

But what did that change?

Nothing. Not really.

I didn't reply. Not out of spite. Just... because I didn't need to. If he had something tangible to say, he'd say it instead of using vague texts. He'd speak with presence, not just curiosity sparked by my withdrawal.