Pray // 𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜

The Perfect Stranger

Evelyn

"Let's play Truth or Dare!" Jodi said. I glanced around at the pink room and it's decor. Liz had her Beats pill on blast and the voices of Fifth Harmony were filling the atmosphere.

I felt my phone buzz and pulled it out. It was him.

"Um, I'll be right back, guys. I gotta take a call." I said, slipping away.

The place was dark as I walked past a knocked-out Ashton who lay on the couch. I noticed a glimmer of light at a distance but didn't pay much attention. It smells like cigarettes...

I quickly answered the phone.

"Evelyn Rosita Velasquez! Where the hell are you?" He Shouted from the other end.

"I'm at-"

"I don't freakin' care! You wanna stay out? Fine. Sleep wherever your stupid head tells you to, and don't bother coming back. Your dumb presence isn't needed in my house!" He interrupted.

"Please! I'm sorry I won't do this again! I have nowhere to go, please understand me!" I said, hot tears streaming down my cheeks.

But the phone was already dead.

I stood there- rooted to the cold ground- my bare feet barely visible under the grass. I let the tears flow as if they alone could soothe the ache in my heart. The sky was full of billions of stars. Why won't one just hit me already?

Millions of thoughts formed a whirlwind in my somewhat sane mind. Where would I go? What would I do?

Suddenly, I was snapped out of my depressing trance by a hand on my shoulder. My eyes widened in realization that I wasn't alone, and I turned around. I came face-to-face with a tall silhouette, one that looked vaguely familiar.

"A-Ashton?" I asked warily.

"Actually, its Ethan...you okay?" He asked.

No. I'm not okay. I just want to die or evaporate. I have nowhere to go. I have fear and dread in my heart and there's nothing left to hold onto...there never was...

However, the words that brimmed my lips just couldn't express how I truly felt, and I found myself desperate and in great need of comfort and reassurance.

I buried my face into the stranger's firm chest and involuntary drenched his shirt in tears. I felt him gently rub my back and whisper comforting nothings in my ear. It was as if time was suspended between us, and we shared a deep connection. It felt like he knew what I was going through...but he didn't.

Even though, I didn't care. Ethan was there at the perfect time.

The perfect place.

And at that moment, he was the perfect stranger.