“I don’t know yet,” she says. “I’ve been trying to figure that out. That’s why I’m still here, actually. Trying to… get some clarity, I guess.” She laughs, but it’s quieter now, more introspective. “Seems like everyone around here has their lives figured out. And me? I’m still trying to figure out what the next step is.”
I nod slowly, understanding her words. Hell, I’ve been there myself. And I don’t know why, but I want to tell her that she’s not alone in that feeling. That sometimes, it’s okay not to have all the answers, even when it feels like everyone else does.
“You’re not the only one,” I declare. “I think everyone’s just trying to figure it out, one way or another.”
She meets my gaze then, her eyes holding mine in a way that seems more than just the moment. It’s almost as if she sees through me, into something deeper. And I can feel the heat building between us.
“Maybe I’m just waiting for something to pull me in the right direction.”
My heart beats a little faster at that.
We reach her place, a small cabin tucked at the edge of town. She hesitates, and I can tell she’s deciding whether or not toinvite me in. But she doesn’t. And I’m not sure if I’m relieved or disappointed, but something tells me this isn’t the last time I’ll be walking her home.
“Thanks for walking me back.”
“Anytime,” I reply, standing a little closer than I probably should.
The space between us crackles, thick with unspoken words, with what ifs and maybes. And I’m not sure where any of this is going, but I know one thing: I’m not ready for it to end.
She smiles at me, that mischievous glint back in her eyes. “Well, I guess I’ll see you around, Zane.”
I nod, holding her gaze for just a moment longer before I turn to leave. But just before I step away, she calls out one more time.
“Don’t be a stranger.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Aurora
I finally open the letter.The one Evie wrote for me.
I’ve been putting it off for almost two weeks now, ever since I got here. Not because I didn’t want to know what she’d said, but because I knew it would change things. The timing just never felt right. But now? The moment’s here, and I can’t avoid it any longer.
I settle back on the bed, holding the letter carefully in my hands like it might break apart at any second. Her handwriting is a little shaky, as if she wrote this on a bad day or when she was tired. It’s almost like she’s still here, talking to me.
I take a breath.
My dearest Rory,
I know you’re going to read this when you’re ready, and I hope that’s soon because it’s been hard to watch you struggle. You always took care of everyone else, but I see how you’ve been carrying too much, my girl. You’re burnt out, and I can feel it. I don’t think you’ll ever admit it, but I know you better than anyone. I always did.
I didn’t want to leave you with that burden. But I also knew you needed something bigger than the small life you’ve been living. That’s why I’m writing this. I need you to knowthat what you’ve been searching for… it’s out there. But it’s not going to come to you on its own. You have to go out and find it.
That’s why I left you the money. I know you’ll wonder why I didn’t just give it to you when I was alive, but there’s a reason. I knew if I offered it while I was alive, you’d refuse it or spend it on everyone else. I wanted you to take it, but I needed you to do it for yourself. Not because you feel obligated to carry me or my memories. But because you deserve more than what you’ve been settling for. This world is bigger than you think. I’ve seen it, and I know you can, too.
I always came back to Coyote Glen whenever life grew too heavy. It was where I went when things hurt, when I was lost, when I needed to remember myself again. I couldn’t have gotten through those years without this town. I came here for peace, for solace. And I want you to find that, too. This town isn’t just a pretty place. It’s where I survived.
So, when you’re ready, I want you to really see Coyote Glen. I want you to understand it the way I did. You don’t have to stay, but you do need to see it. You need to understand why this town, this place, has always held a special place in my heart. Maybe you’ll find something here, too.
I’m proud of you, Rory. Always have been. Don’t let your life slip away while you’re taking care of everyone else. It’s your time now. Go live.
Love, Evie
I sit there for a long moment after reading her letter, Evie’s words sinking in. She knew me better than I ever gave her credit for. I wasn’t living, I was surviving in the city. And she was right to point it out. Now, I need to stop running. I have to make a change.
I can’t keep going through the motions. It’s time to stop hiding behind my grief and start figuring out what I really want.
Tears sting my eyes before I can stop them. I let them come, feel them slip down my cheeks because what else am I supposed to do? I cry for her. For me. For the life I didn’t let myself live.
