All that glitters isn’t gold, it’s something shifty sometimes
(At last: Continuation from https://insightstrove.com/nora-meets-the-phantom/) Buckle up, it’s a rollercoaster here on.
As she entered, they immediately caught each other’s eye. Transfixed by fear, perhaps shame, she couldn’t move another step even though she wanted to turn and run back home. Something unexpected happened, he smiled, stood from his chair and walked to her. “Hi beautiful.” He started. Nora was as confused as you are now. “Hi handsome.” She replied with that blue smile. “We should probably talk.” She continued. “Yes, but after the show, don’t you think? I love the dress by the way.” Not waiting for her response, he led her to where he had saved her a seat, next to his.
The show was fun but everything that has a beginning, has an end. Darkness was already gathering when the show ended so they found a quiet corner at a restaurant right next to the show venue. They had both tactfully avoided the topic until they sat. “I’m really sorry …” She began. “About what?” He interrupted. “Mm, seriously? What do you mean ‘about what’? The elephant in the room?” She bent in trying to whisper. “That I like you and I’d like to see you again? That elephant?” He also bent in and whispered. “Wait what! You’d like to see me again!” She couldn’t believe her ears. Is he joking? She thought. “Why?” She asked out loud. “Like I said, I like you.” She didn’t want to push back because she felt like the judge had pardoned her. “Okay. I like you too.” She resigned. “What now?” She asked. “Now we order.” He answered.
They enjoyed their meal coupled with laughs here and there and they parted ways for the night. They talked after she got home and made plans to see each other again. That night, Nora couldn’t sleep. She was excited to say the least; confused, nevertheless. Anyway, she decided not to bring it up if he didn’t want to talk about it. For 5 months, they had the time of their lives. They saw each other almost daily in that time. Nora discovered that he had searched her up and found a past photo of her before they met, and that answered how he was able to recognize her on their first date. He earned respect for this as it wasn’t an easy trail to get a photo of Nora on social media.
All that glitters is not gold: One day, they had met up as usual, but something was different. He wasn’t smiling. He was distant. She dismissed it as, ”maybe he has something on his mind”. However, when she got home, she didn’t get the call. “Did you get home alright?” He would ask. Something was off. Days went by without him even texting. Something was surely off. One day, they met and this time she brought it up. “I feel like something is missing here. Do you feel like we’re offkey nowadays?” “Yeah.” He said flatly. “So, what do you suppose is going on because I thought we were great?
“I think you should explore and meet other people.” He spoke. “Okay. Why would I do that?” Nora asked. “It will be good for you.” He went on and on and on about it. Nora sat there in as much confusion as she started this whole thing in. However, she accepted her fate as if she’d anticipated it. “Okay. I just wish you would have asked me what I wanted instead of deciding for me. I’m hurt but it’s okay if that’s what you want.” After some minutes of silence: “I guess there’s nothing else to be said.” She concluded and they parted ways. This time it felt like for ever.
In the next two months, she painfully carried him in her heart. She’d been enchanted. Living in a small town didn’t make it easier as their paths would cross from time to time. As she went to campus, in the supermarket.: She’d forget and smile at him, but the smile wouldn’t be requited and then she’d remember. They’d chance on and he’d say nothing and finally, wouldn’t even look at her. She became the phantom. It pained her, but slowly and surely, the pain faded and she’d catch her smile returned by strangers. Until that day, on her walk with her headphones on, when they meet again.
What are your thoughts on this? It’s the first time I’m reading it too 😁 and I’m as confused as you are.
Hope you enjoyed the story in full. Thanks for reading 🤗
They meet again here ⬇️⬇️⬇️
A Phantom Sorry
“If you play with fire, you will get burnt.”
_ancient wisdom