Ethan checked his watch for the hundredth time. The small, golden hands seemed to mock him as they crept past the appointed hour. He had planned every detail meticulously: the cosy corner table at La Petite, the wine he knew she liked, and the bouquet of her favourite lilies resting in the middle of the table. But Lily was late, and the minutes were ticking by painfully slow.
He picked up his phone, hesitating before dialling her number again. He had already called twice and sent a handful of texts, each one more desperate than the last. He stared at the screen, hoping for the notification light to blink, but it remained stubbornly dark. With a deep breath, he pressed the call button, listening to the ringing that seemed to stretch into eternity. Once again, it went to voicemail.
“Hey, it’s me, Ethan. Just wondering if you’re on your way. I’m at the restaurant. Hope everything is okay. Call me back when you get this.”
He hung up, feeling the familiar knot of anxiety tighten in his stomach. They had been together for nearly a year, and in that time, Ethan had come to understand Lily’s rhythms and patterns. She was punctual, almost to a fault, and she hated leaving people waiting. Something was wrong, and the not knowing gnawed at him.
Ethan’s mind raced with possibilities. Maybe she was stuck in traffic or had forgotten her phone at home. Or worse, maybe she had second thoughts about the relationship. The thought chilled him. They had their share of arguments, but he believed their bond was stronger than a few disagreements. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something more sinister was at play.
He replayed their last conversation in his mind. They had spoken the night before, making plans for tonight. She had sounded excited, her laugh like music to his ears as they joked about their day. There had been no indication of anything amiss.
As the evening wore on, Ethan’s worry deepened. He decided to leave the restaurant and head to her apartment. The night air was cool and bracing, a stark contrast to the warmth of La Petite. He drove through the city streets, each red light and slow-moving car adding to his frustration.
When he reached her building, he parked hastily and ran up the stairs to her floor. He knocked on her door, the sound echoing ominously in the quiet hallway. There was no answer. He knocked again, harder this time, hoping she would come to the door and laugh at how worried he had been.
But there was only silence.
He tried the doorknob, finding it locked. Desperation clawed at him as he called her name, his voice growing louder with each attempt. A neighbour peeked out from behind their door, eyeing him suspiciously.
“Is everything okay?” the neighbour asked.
“I’m looking for Lily. She was supposed to meet me, but she hasn’t shown up and she’s not answering her phone,” Ethan explained, trying to keep his voice calm.
The neighbour frowned. “I haven’t seen her today. Maybe she went out?”
Ethan thanked the neighbour and walked back to his car, feeling more lost than ever. He sat behind the wheel, the bouquet of lilies on the passenger seat mocking him. He took a deep breath and decided to drive around the neighbourhood, hoping to spot her somewhere.
As he drove, his phone finally buzzed. He grabbed it, heart pounding, but it was just a text from his friend, Mark, asking how the date was going. Ethan sighed and put the phone back down, feeling the weight of disappointment settle on his shoulders.
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After what felt like hours, he returned home. The apartment felt emptier than usual, the silence pressing in on him. He sat on the couch, staring at his phone, wishing it to ring. Eventually, exhaustion overtook him, and he fell into a fitful sleep.
In his dreams, he saw Lily. She was standing in a field of lilies, her hair flowing in the wind, her eyes bright with laughter. She reached out to him, but every time he tried to take her hand, she faded away.
He woke up to the harsh ring of his phone. Disoriented, he fumbled for it, his heart leaping when he saw Lily’s name on the screen.
“Lily? Where are you? Are you okay?” he asked, his voice thick with sleep and worry.
There was a pause on the other end before she spoke. “Ethan, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you. I’m okay. I just… I needed some time to think.”
Relief washed over him, followed by confusion. “Think about what? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I’m sorry,” she repeated, her voice trembling. “I didn’t know how to tell you. Things have been so perfect between us, and I’ve been scared of ruining it. I needed some space to sort out my feelings.”
Ethan’s mind raced. “Lily, you can talk to me. Whatever it is, we can figure it out together.”
She took a deep breath. “I know. And I want to. But tonight, I just needed to be alone. Can you understand that?”
He nodded, even though she couldn’t see him. “Yes, I understand. Just promise me you’ll talk to me when you’re ready.”
“I promise,” she said softly. “I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?”
“Okay,” he agreed, feeling the knot in his stomach loosen. “I’ll be here.”
As he hung up, Ethan felt a mix of emotions. Relief that she was safe, but also a nagging worry about what she had been thinking. He looked at the bouquet of lilies, now slightly wilted, and hoped that whatever had been troubling her, they could face it together.
He fell asleep again, this time with a little more peace in his heart. He knew there were still unanswered questions, but he also knew that love was about facing the unknown together. And he was ready for whatever came next.
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