—August 4th, 2025 - Night—

We had nowhere to go. Or at least we thought we didn't. Naturally, we went to the only place that would welcome us with open arms: my mother's house. The walk there was emotional, to say the least. We'd both just completely destroyed our old paradigms and were heading into a brave new world of novelty and unknown. We were shaken, but as I was quickly learning, Eli and I worked incredibly well together. Our ability to be each other's emotional anchor, even after just a few days of knowing each other, was second to none. Unlike our old relationships, we filled each other's cups naturally, effortlessly.

When we arrived at Mom's, it was dark. The adrenaline from the day was finally wearing off, and I'd grown so fed up with my phone's endless buzzing that I finally turned it off and shoved it in my pocket.

"Well hello, my distinguished mold breakers!" Mom greeted us with a knowing smile. "How happy I am to see you two back so soon!"

"I appreciate the optimism but I'm not really in the—"

She cut me off. "Do you know how many calls I've received tonight asking if you were okay?"

"Mom, please, I know. Can we just—"

"Alright, alright, I understand." She backed off, and I noticed that something smelled amazing. "Dinner's on the stove. I'll be watching my shows on the couch if you need me. You two make yourselves comfortable. But no rough housing, alright? I have that meeting tomorrow. Let me go get a wet cloth for Eli’s feet!"

Relief flooded through me at my mother's grace, and I finally felt my breathing regulate. I noticed Eli hadn't said a word since we arrived. When I looked over at her, she seemed almost in a trance. "Hi."

"Hey," she replied with a soft smile that couldn't quite hide her exhaustion. I could read behind that expression—she was tired, drained, probably feeling like complete shit honestly.

We shed our things at the front entrance. Mom must have noticed our puffy faces, the running makeup, and Eli's wedding dress—not to mention the hundreds of texts she'd probably received from Sarah’s family—but none of that mattered right now. We were safe, warm, and housed. That was all I needed to know in this moment.

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"My old room's downstairs," I said. "Follow me."

The familiar scent of incense hit us as we descended to the basement, bringing back a rush of memories—good, bad, beautiful, awkward. I was too tired to either cringe or feel nostalgic.

"Is that... sandalwood?" Eli asked as we made our way down.

"Yeah, nice isn't it? She loves the stuff."

"Me too. It reminds me of my mother."

"Oh really? I wonder what else we have in common." We shared a tired giggle as we reached the basement floor. When I opened my bedroom door, I had to smile. "Good as new. Thanks, Mom." She really knew how to maintain a house—the room was immaculate, not a speck of dust, everything exactly as I'd left it three years ago.

Eli immediately collapsed onto the bed with a long sigh of relief. "Mmmm my feet huuurt."

"I can't imagine walking this long barefoot. God. I wish I could have carried you, but I lost my last ounce of strength a few hours ago, if I'm being honest."

"It's okay. This bed smells so good." She buried her face in the comforter, her expression melting into one of pure contentment. "It smells like you, Tris." She gave me a playful side-eye that made me blush and look away shyly.

"Aw shucks," I joked in an exaggerated accent, remembering to close the door. "I really like your scent too. What is it? Cherry blossom?"

"Is that what you smell?" She struggled to sit up, using what looked like her last reserves of energy. I settled cross-legged on the floor in front of her. "People always say I just naturally smell good. I don't use any fragrances."

I stared at her in disbelief. "What do you mean you don't use fragrances? But you smell so good. Every time I've met you, there were immediate floral tones entering my sensory holes."

"Sensory holes..." she laughed, tired but genuine. "Yeah man, honest to god I just smell good. I don't know what to say."

"Amazing." I looked into her eyes, struck again by how she could look so beautiful even completely exhausted. She still wore the wedding dress, her feet were dirty from walking barefoot, and mascara was smeared across her cheeks—and somehow she was still the most captivating thing I'd ever seen. "We have a bathroom down here by the way. It's more than okay if you want to use it—" I turned to point behind me, but when I looked back, she was already asleep.

"Huh. Beautiful even when she sleeps." I took a moment to really look at her. She’s reliable under stress, willing to take unthinkable risks when her heart is set on something, and she’s cute as all heck. And I thought to myself: yup, she is best girl, undeniably.

I passed out right there on the floor, too tired to think, too tired to move. The lights were still on, but it didn't matter. I had Eli with me, and that's all my little heart cared about right now. The rest could wait.