Chapter 42
Ella
Saturday
We talked about everything and anything. Even the things I once thought we would never get a chance to. And when my phone’s sleep alarm beeps, I remember how much I still want to say.
“We better go back,” he says, standing up and offering me a hand.
“Thank you.” I accept and stand too. “Tomorrow’s an important day.” I give him a try of my pretend least-nervous smile, one he still seems to unravel without any difficulty.
“You’re going to do great,” he assures me. “Do you want to practice your presentation for me on our way back?” he asks, and I know we both flash back to a distant memory of ours — the long nights, the cold air, our laughter, my college interview speech.
My head nods. “That would be great,” my mouth quietly says. It feels so unreal that my body seems to be moving without my brain’s command.
We begin our journey back. He says he’ll walk me to my hotel, and even though I tell him it’s not necessary, I want him to walk with me.
And so we go. To the sound of my practiced speech, his curious questions, or the comfortable silence that sometimes settles between our steps on the cold pavement.