—August 6th, 2025, Early Morning—
I woke to darkness and the feeling of Eli stirring beside me. My throat felt like sandpaper, my stomach a hollow cave crying out for sustenance. We hadn't eaten or drunk anything since yesterday morning's breakfast, having slept through the rest of the day and night after the drugstore confrontation.
"How do you feel?" Eli's voice came soft through the darkness, still rough with sleep.
"Like shit," I admitted, then smiled despite myself. "But better, knowing you're here." The words came out raw but sincere, earning me a sleepy hum of agreement.
She leaned over, pressing a kiss to my lips despite our mutual morning breath. The simple gesture carried more meaning than any perfectly-timed, minty-fresh kiss ever could. This was real. This was us, exactly as we were.
We made our way upstairs, our bodies protesting the movement after nearly twenty-four hours of stillness. The house was quiet except for the soft sounds coming from the kitchen. As we rounded the corner, we found Mom in her usual spot by the window, coffee cup in hand as she scrolled through her morning news feed.
"Well hello my beautiful songbirds!" Her voice carried that characteristic warmth that always made everything feel better. Before we knew it, she had enveloped us both in a massive hug that somehow felt like exactly what we needed.
"I heard all about yesterday," she continued, her tone shifting slightly. "Oh, I heard all about it alright." She released us from the hug but kept her hands on our shoulders. "Not only was there an all-out war waged by Sarah, her sister, and their parents, but they even had the audacity to sling insults my way."
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I felt my nostrils flare, rage building in my chest. My grip on Eli's hand tightened unconsciously until she suddenly raised it to her mouth and bit down—hard enough to snap me back to reality but gentle enough to show understanding.
"Sorry," I whispered, immediately loosening my hold.
"It's fine," she assured me, her eyes full of empathy. "I understand. I'd feel the same way."
"Now then," Mom intervened smoothly, "there are leftovers in the fridge, water in the pitcher, and I just brewed a fresh pot of coffee. You two look like you could use all three."
We didn't need to be told twice. Soon we were settled at the kitchen table, plates loaded with reheated food that tasted better than any five-star meal. As we ate, Mom joined us with fresh coffee cups for everyone.
"You know," Eli said between bites, "meeting Sarah at the drugstore yesterday... as awful as it was, I'm glad it happened. Like ripping off a bandage."
"The universe making introductions again," Mom mused, that knowing smile playing at her lips.
Eli and I shared a look, that familiar synchronistic feeling washing over us. It was true—everything seemed perfectly orchestrated, as if the universe itself was helping us establish our place while guiding others onto their proper paths.
"Speaking of introductions," I said carefully, watching Eli's face, "we should probably handle your situation today."
She nodded, setting down her fork. "My apartment first. I need to get some things, and... and face whatever's waiting there."
The drive to Eli's apartment was quiet, each of us lost in our own thoughts. But our hands remained linked across the center console of Mom's borrowed car, anchoring each other through the uncertainty ahead.
Nothing could have prepared us for what we found.
The apartment was completely trashed. Clothes strewn everywhere, furniture overturned, pictures shattered. Eli's phone lay broken on the ground, its SIM card crushed beside it. I felt my eyes widen like an owl's, while beside me, Eli's hands flew to her mouth as tears began to form.
"Who the fuck would do this?" The words exploded from me before I could stop them.
She didn't answer, just stepped into my chest and broke down completely. I'd seen her cry before—at the cemetery, during our confessions—but this was different. This was raw, primal grief.
A knock at the door made us both freeze.