Box Of Matches | ✓

17

The days following her discovery of Colby's new girlfriend, Charlotte, were some of the hardest Ariel had ever faced. Each morning, she would wake up with a heavy heart, the memories of her brief but intense connection with Colby looming over her like a shadow. The Book Nook became her sanctuary, a place where she could immerse herself in the comforting routine of organizing books and assisting customers, temporarily pushing aside the hurt that threatened to overwhelm her.

One particularly dreary Tuesday morning, Ariel found herself sitting on the couch at home, absentmindedly scrolling through her phone. Despite her best efforts to stay away from social media, curiosity had gotten the better of her, and she had ended up on Colby's Instagram page. Each photo of Colby and Charlotte, smiling and seemingly perfect together, was a painful reminder of what she had lost—or perhaps, what she had never truly had.

Moby, sensing her distress, jumped up beside her and nuzzled her hand. Ariel sighed and scratched behind his ears, finding a small comfort in his presence. Determined to pull herself out of her melancholy, she decided to head into work a bit early. The familiarity of the bookstore, with its cozy corners and the smell of old paper, always had a way of soothing her soul.

When she arrived at The Book Nook, the morning sunlight streamed through the large windows, casting a warm glow on the shelves filled with books. Salem greeted her with a lazy stretch and a flick of his tail from his usual spot on the counter. Ariel smiled and gave him a gentle pat before heading to the back to drop off her things and get the shop ready for the day.

As she dusted the shelves and straightened the displays, she tried to focus on the positive aspects of her life. She had a job she loved, a supportive father, and a loyal cat and dog who adored her. She reminded herself that she was strong and capable, and that this heartbreak would eventually become just another chapter in her story.

Around mid-morning, the bell above the door chimed, and Ariel looked up to see a familiar face. It was Linda, the regular customer with a passion for classic literature. Linda greeted Ariel with a warm smile, and they exchanged pleasantries before Linda disappeared into the stacks to browse.

A few more customers trickled in, and Ariel busied herself with helping them find what they were looking for. Despite the distraction of work, thoughts of Colby continued to linger at the back of her mind. She knew she needed to talk to someone, to get some perspective and advice, but she wasn't sure who to turn to.

As the morning turned into afternoon, the doorbell chimed again, and Ariel looked up to see Mr. Thompson walking in. The sight of the kind old man brought a sense of relief, and she found herself genuinely smiling for the first time that day.

"Hello, Mr. Thompson!" Ariel called out, waving him over.

"Good afternoon, Ariel," Mr. Thompson replied with a twinkle in his eye. "How's my favorite bookstore employee today?"

Ariel's smile faltered slightly, but she quickly regained her composure. "I'm hanging in there. How about you?"

Mr. Thompson gave her a knowing look, sensing that something was off. "I'm doing well, thank you. Say, how about a cup of tea? I could use a break."

Ariel nodded, grateful for the distraction. "Coming right up."

She prepared two cups of tea and brought them over to the small seating area near the window. Mr. Thompson settled into one of the armchairs, and Ariel took the other. For a moment, they sat in comfortable silence, sipping their tea and watching the world go by outside.

"So, what's been troubling you, Ariel?" Mr. Thompson asked gently, breaking the silence.

Ariel hesitated, unsure where to begin. But the concern in Mr. Thompson's eyes gave her the courage to open up. "It's Colby," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "We had an amazing date a while back, but then he just...ghosted me. And now I found out he has a new girlfriend."

Mr. Thompson nodded, his expression sympathetic. "I'm sorry to hear that, Ariel. Ghosting is never easy to deal with. It leaves so many unanswered questions."

Ariel sighed, feeling the weight of her emotions. "I just don't understand what went wrong. We had such a great connection, and then he disappeared without a word. And now he's with someone else, and it hurts so much."

Mr. Thompson reached out and patted her hand reassuringly. "Sometimes people don't have the courage to confront their feelings or the situations they're in. It's not a reflection on you, Ariel. It's a reflection on them."

Ariel nodded, appreciating his words but still feeling the sting of rejection. "It just feels like I missed my chance at love."

Mr. Thompson's eyes softened, and he leaned back in his chair. "Let me tell you a story, Ariel. When I was young, there was a girl named Sally. She was the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen, with a smile that could light up a room. I had feelings for her, but I was too scared to tell her. I thought I had all the time in the world."

Ariel listened intently, despite hearing the story once before.

"Sally started dating someone else, and I ended up in a relationship with another girl. We both moved on, or so it seemed. But one day, Sally realized what she was missing, and she broke up with her boyfriend to find me. I realized then that I still loved her, so I broke up with my girlfriend, and Sally and I finally got together."

Mr. Thompson smiled fondly at the memory. "Sally became my wife, and we spent over sixty wonderful years together. The point is, Ariel, sometimes we don't act on our feelings out of fear or uncertainty. But that doesn't mean we won't find love again. It just means we have to be patient and open to the possibilities."

Ariel felt a sense of hope blossom within her. "Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Your story means a lot to me."

He nodded, his eyes twinkling. "Remember, Ariel, life is full of unexpected turns. Don't give up on love just because this chapter didn't end the way you hoped. There are many more chapters to come."

As Mr. Thompson found his book and left, Ariel was once again alone in the store, with only Salem for company. The cat flicked his tail back and forth, his presence a comforting constant in her life. Ariel sat back in her chair, reflecting on Mr. Thompson's words and the story he had shared.

The sadness she felt didn't vanish completely, but it was tempered by a newfound sense of resilience. She realized that, while Colby had hurt her deeply, his actions didn't define her worth or her capacity for love. She still had so much to offer, and she deserved someone who would see and appreciate that.

As the afternoon sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the bookstore, Ariel made a silent promise to herself. She would allow herself to grieve and feel the pain, but she wouldn't let it consume her. She would remain open to the possibilities that life had to offer, and she would trust that, eventually, the right person would come along.

The bell above the door chimed again, and Ariel looked up to see a young woman entering the shop. With a deep breath and a genuine smile, she stood up to greet the customer, ready to embrace whatever the future held.