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Chapter 7 - The Stranger at the Park

The weekend finally arrived, and Eliza decided to venture out of her house, eager to escape the confines of her own walls. She had been cooped up for too long, trying to process the losses she had suffered: her parents, her boyfriend Khoby, her friend Sarah, and even her job at The Daily Grind. The pain still felt like an open wound.

As she prepared to leave the house, Eliza made herself a warm cup of coffee and sat down at the kitchen table to collect her thoughts. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, invigorating her senses. She checked her phone for any messages, but there were none. She smiled wistfully, thinking about how quiet her life had become.

After finishing her coffee, Eliza got up and began to bundle up in her warmest coat and boots. She wrapped a scarf around her neck and pulled on her gloves, feeling the cold winter air seep into the house through the cracks beneath the door. She grabbed her book and headed out the door, locking it behind her with a reassuring click.

As she walked to the town's central park, she noticed a black car parking on the side of the road. Her heart skipped a beat as she realized it was the same car she had seen before. A shiver ran down her spine as she wondered who the car belonged to and why it seemed to be following her.

But she pushed the thought aside and continued walking, lost in her own thoughts. The sun peeked through the gray clouds, casting a soft glow on the white scenery. The snow-covered trees sparkled like diamonds, and the sound of children's laughter carried on the wind.

She settled onto a bench, wrapped in a warm blanket, her book in her hands, her mind occasionally drifting to thoughts of Khoby. The memory of his smile still lingered in her mind, and she couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.

Suddenly, a snowball flew through the air, hitting her squarely on the back of her head. Startled, she turned around to see a dark-haired boy in a navy blue coat, laughing as his friends surrounded him.

"Are you guys blind?" Eliza snapped, her voice rising in anger. "Can't you see I'm trying to mind my own business here?"

The boy's smile faltered, and he took a step back, looking taken aback by her outburst. His eyes, a deep shade of blue, seemed to cloud over with confusion.

"What's your problem, anyway?" Eliza continued, her anger boiling over. "Can't you see I'm trying to read here?"

The boy held up his hands in a defensive gesture. "Sorry, we didn't mean to disturb you," he muttered.

Eliza's glare intensified. "Disturb me? You think hitting me with a snowball is just a minor disturbance?"

The boy's friends began to shift uncomfortably, their eyes darting back and forth between Eliza and their friend. One of them took a step forward, as if to intervene, but the boy held out a hand, stopping him.

"It was an accident," the boy said, his voice calm and even. "We didn't mean to hurt you."

Eliza's anger began to simmer down, replaced by a sense of frustration. "Just leave me alone," she spat, turning on her heel and storming off.

The boy watched her go, looking confused and a little hurt. His friends began to pack up their snowball-making gear, chatting quietly among themselves as they headed off in the opposite direction.

Eliza walked briskly, her feet carrying her away from the scene. She didn't know where she was going, she just knew she needed to get away. As she turned a corner, she stopped and leaned against a wall, her back to the cold brick.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, but her mind kept drifting back to the dark-haired boy. His bright blue eyes seemed to sparkle in her memory, and his charming smile lingered on her lips.

Eliza felt a flutter in her chest, and she couldn't believe it. She had told herself she wouldn't get feelings for anyone. Not after Khoby. Not after the pain she had gone through. But there was something about that boy... Something in his eyes that had sparked a flame within her.

A shiver ran down her spine as she remembered the way he had looked at her. It was as if he could see right through her, to the deepest, most hidden parts of her soul.

Eliza's eyes narrowed, her mind racing. She was angry with herself. How could she be feeling this way? She still had feelings for Khoby. The memory of him still lingered in her heart, a constant reminder of what she had lost.

"But who is this guy?" she muttered to herself, her eyes scanning the empty street. "He looks like the son of a billionaire or something." The thought sent a thrill through her, and she couldn't help but wonder what his story was.

Eliza shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. She needed to focus. She couldn't let herself get swept up in feelings for someone she barely knew. But as she stood there, she couldn't shake off the feeling that her heart was already slipping away...

Her thoughts swirled with questions. What was his name? What did he do? And why did he have such an impact on her? Eliza sighed, feeling frustrated with herself. She didn't even know him, and yet she couldn't stop thinking about him.

As she stood there, lost in thought, Eliza felt a sense of vulnerability wash over her. She had built walls around herself, walls that had protected her from the pain of her past. But now, with this boy, she felt like those walls were crumbling, leaving her exposed and vulnerable.

The feeling was both exhilarating and terrifying. Eliza didn't know what to make of it, or how to process her emotions. All she knew was that she couldn't shake off the feeling that her life was about to change in ways she couldn't even imagine.

As Eliza still stood there, she couldn't help but think about the boy. His easygoing nature and infectious laughter had caught her off guard, and she found herself smiling as she remembered their brief encounter. She shook her head, chuckling to herself. "What's wrong with me?" she muttered. "I'm still thinking about him."

As she started walking again, she noticed a black car passing by. Her heart skipped a beat as she realized it was the same car she had seen earlier. But because of the dark glass windows, she couldn't see who was inside. The car drove by slowly, and Eliza felt a shiver run down her spine. She wondered if it was just a coincidence or if someone was actually following her.

The boy in the car caught a glimpse of Eliza's profile as they drove by. He felt a sudden jolt of recognition and interest, and he found himself wanting to know more about this mysterious girl. He leaned back in his seat, his eyes fixed on the rearview mirror, watching as Eliza disappeared from view.

As the car drove away, the boy's mind lingered on the image of Eliza's determined expression. He couldn't help but wonder what her story was. What had brought her to this place? What secrets was she hiding behind those piercing eyes?

The boy's thoughts swirled with questions, each one leading to more. He felt a thrill of excitement at the prospect of uncovering the mystery that was Eliza. Little did he know, their encounter in the park was only the beginning of a complex and intriguing dance.

As Eliza continued walking, she couldn't shake off the feeling that she was being watched. She glanced over her shoulder, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. Shrugging it off, she turned her attention back to the boy from the park. She found herself smiling as she remembered their brief encounter.

She thought about his bright blue eyes and charming smile, and wondered what his name was. She imagined what it would be like to see him again, to talk to him and get to know him better.

Lost in thought, Eliza didn't notice the person walking towards her until it was too late. She collided with a young girl, sending them both tumbling to the ground.

"Oh no, I'm so sorry!" Eliza exclaimed, scrambling to her feet.

The girl, who looked to be around 10 years old, rubbed her scraped knee and looked up at Eliza with tears in her eyes.

"Belinda, are you okay?" a voice called out from behind them.

Eliza turned to see Mrs. Thompson, her neighbor, rushing towards them with a look of concern on her face.

"I'm so sorry, Mrs. Thompson," Eliza said, feeling mortified. "I wasn't watching where I was going."

Mrs. Thompson smiled and patted Eliza's arm. "It's okay, dear. Accidents happen. Just help Belinda up and make sure she's okay."

Eliza nodded and helped Belinda to her feet. The young girl was still sniffling, but she seemed to be okay.

"I'm really sorry again," Eliza said, feeling embarrassed.

Mrs. Thompson smiled and waved her hand. "Don't worry about it, dear. Just be more careful next time."

Eliza nodded and watched as Mrs. Thompson and Belinda walked away. She couldn't help but feel a little silly for being so caught up in thoughts of the boy from the park.

As Eliza opened the main gate to her house, she was surprised to see a familiar figure standing at the back of the door. Her aunt, her mother's sister, was standing with a warm smile on her face.

Eliza's eyes widened in surprise, and she felt a lump form in her throat. She hadn't seen her aunt since her parents' funeral, and the sight of her brought back a flood of emotions.

Without hesitation, Eliza dropped her bag and ran towards her aunt, throwing her arms around her waist. Her aunt enveloped her in a warm hug, holding her tightly as Eliza burst into tears.

"I've missed you so much, Auntie," Eliza sobbed, her body shaking with emotion.

Her aunt stroked her hair, whispering words of comfort in her ear. "I've missed you too, sweetie. I'm so sorry I haven't been able to come visit you sooner."

Eliza cried uncontrollably, releasing all the pent-up emotions she had been carrying since her parents' death. It was the first time anyone from her family had come to visit her, and the feeling of being loved and cared for was overwhelming.

As Eliza stood there, holding her aunt tightly, she felt a wave of emotions wash over her. She sobbed uncontrollably, her body shaking with grief and sadness.

"Auntie, I've missed you so much," Eliza cried, her voice barely audible. "I've been so alone since Mom and Dad passed away. It's been so hard without them."

Her aunt held her close, whispering words of comfort in her ear. "I'm here now, sweetie. I'm here for you. You're not alone anymore."

Eliza's sobs intensified, and she buried her face in her aunt's shoulder. She felt like she was drowning in a sea of emotions, and she didn't know how to keep her head above water.

Her aunt stroked her hair, holding her close as she cried. "Let it all out, sweetie," she whispered. "You don't have to be strong anymore. I'm here to hold you."

As Eliza cried, she felt like she was releasing all the pain and sadness she had been carrying inside her. It was like a weight was lifting off her shoulders, and she could finally breathe again.

Her aunt held her for a long time, letting her cry until she had no more tears left. When Eliza finally pulled back, her aunt smiled softly and wiped away her tears.

"I'm so sorry I wasn't here for you sooner," her aunt said, her voice filled with regret. "But I'm here now, and I'm not going anywhere."

Eliza looked up at her aunt, her eyes still red and puffy from crying. She took a deep breath, her voice shaking with emotion.

"Auntie, please don't leave me again," Eliza said, her words tumbling out in a rush. "I don't think I can handle it if you leave me again. I feel so alone without you."

Her aunt's face contorted in a mixture of sadness and regret. She pulled Eliza into a tight hug, holding her close.

"I'm so sorry, sweetie," her aunt whispered. "I had no idea you were feeling so alone. I promise you, I won't leave you again. I'll stay with you for as long as you need me."

Eliza felt a wave of relief wash over her, followed by a sense of gratitude. She hugged her aunt tightly, feeling like she could finally breathe again.

"Thank you, Auntie," Eliza whispered, her voice muffled against her aunt's shoulder. "Thank you for coming back to see me."

Her aunt stroked her hair, holding her close. "I'll always be here for you, sweetie," she whispered. "You're not alone anymore."

As they hugged, Eliza's aunt finally pulled back and smiled. "Let's get inside, it's freezing out here," she said, gesturing to the snow-covered porch.

Eliza nodded, and together they stepped inside her warm and cozy house. The cold winter air was replaced by the warm scent of old books and fresh laundry, familiar smells that comforted Eliza.

As they entered, Eliza's aunt helped her out of her wet coat and boots, and Eliza couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort and security. It was like having a part of her family back, and Eliza felt like she could finally breathe again.

Her aunt followed her into the living room, where Eliza had left the TV on, casting a warm glow over the room. Eliza sat down on the couch, feeling the warmth and comfort of the soft cushions. Her aunt sat down beside her, putting a gentle arm around her shoulders.

As they sat there, Eliza felt a sense of peace wash over her. It was like the world outside had melted away, and all that mattered was the warmth and love of her aunt's presence.

Her aunt handed her a steaming mug of hot chocolate, which Eliza had left on the coffee table. Eliza took a sip, feeling the warmth spread through her body. She closed her eyes, letting out a contented sigh.

"I'm so glad you're here, Auntie," Eliza said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Her aunt smiled, hugging her tightly. "I'm glad too, sweetie. I'm not going anywhere."

As they were hugging, Eliza's aunt pulled back with a concerned expression. "Sweetie, how did you survive all these years without your parents?" she asked, her voice gentle and soothing.

Eliza tried to hold it together, but her aunt's question opened up a floodgate of emotions. She felt a lump form in her throat as she tried to speak. "I-I don't know, Auntie," Eliza stuttered, her voice shaking.

But her aunt wasn't fooled. She reached out and took Eliza's hand in hers, her eyes filled with compassion. "Eliza, it's okay to not be okay," her aunt said softly. "You've been through so much. Losing your parents... it's a lot to handle."

Eliza felt a tear roll down her cheek as her aunt mentioned her parents. She tried to brush it away, but her aunt caught her hand and held it gently. "Hey, it's okay to cry," her aunt said. "You don't have to be strong all the time. I'm here for you, sweetie."

Eliza felt a dam break inside her, and she began to sob uncontrollably. Her aunt pulled her into a warm hug, holding her close as she cried.

Eliza's aunt asked her gently, "I actually went to The Daily Grind before coming here, and one of your coworkers told me you were home. A boy named Jake... he seemed like he was hiding something from me."

Eliza's eyes widened in surprise, and she pulled back from her aunt's hug. "Jake?" she repeated, her voice shaking. "What did he say to you?"

Eliza's aunt leaned in, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "He didn't say anything specific, but he seemed... nervous. Like he was hiding something. He just told me you were home and that was it."

Eliza took a deep breath before launching into the story. "Auntie, I got suspended from work for three months," she said, her voice shaking.

Her aunt's eyes widened in surprise. "What? Why?"

Eliza hesitated before speaking. "My manager said it was because I'm lazy and I come to work late. But that's not true, Auntie. I've always been a hard worker and I'm rarely late."

Her aunt's expression turned skeptical. "Then why do you think you got suspended?"

Eliza's voice dropped to a whisper. "I think it's because I rejected my manager's proposal. He told me he loved me and wanted to be with me, but I turned him down. I think he's been trying to get back at me ever since."

Her aunt's face darkened with anger. "That's ridiculous! He can't just suspend you because you rejected his proposal. That's harassment!"

Eliza continued, her voice filled with emotion. "And then, when I went back to work after my suspension, he fired me. He said it was because I didn't call him before coming back to work, but I know that's not the real reason."

Her aunt listened intently, her expression a mix of shock and concern. But then, her expression changed to one of curiosity.

"But Eliza, why did you reject him?" her aunt asked, her voice gentle but probing. "You're not young anymore, and it's not easy to find someone who's interested in you. Why did you turn him down?"

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