Abigail - Love, Family and Friendship

Crys

d behind tall wrought-iron gates, the sprawling estate rose like something out of a painting, its cream-colored walls framed

with a small smile, holding the

nt. She'd grown up in a modest house with creaky wooden fl

light streaming through a massive crystal chandelier, and the air carried a faint hint of lavender and cedarwood. Abigail couldn't decide wha

ching the straps of her ba

g the back of his neck. "

by his tone. "A bit much? Etha

andscapes and portraits hung alongside abstract pieces she couldn't quite decipher. "They're col

there was a note of bittern

ey now?" she

e Venice." He shrugged.

andeur of the house felt hollow now, like a b

that didn't match his earlier indifference. "That's a Degas replica," he said, pointing to a statu

reaking through the trees in a way that felt almost alive. "It's beautiful,"

voice softening. "It's o

urniture and bookshelves that reached the ceiling, until Eth

shing it open, "is

urful powders and crystals that sparkled under the soft glow of overhead lights. A large wooden table dominated the centre of the room, clu

this time with genuine

e's into geology-or was, before his focus shifted to rare art pieces. Most of

hing the edge of a tray filled with tiny shards of

rfect for our experiment. Crystal growing requires patien

k of excitement. "Well, let's g

ing them to her. "First lesson: don't touch the chemicals without these.

in the quiet energy of the room. Ethan's focus and enthusiasm were conta

here, in this room filled with crystals and quiet convers

around the lab. It felt like a secret tucked within the grandiosity of the

r. His earlier casual demeanour gave way to a focus she hadn't seen before, and she could

her, "we dissolve the alum in water. The trick is to heat the water

lightly. "Supersaturated? Is that jus

ss of the moment. "Something like that. But tru

ng water. The solution swirled, catching the overhead lights and shim

she admitted, tilting her head.

in his voice. "I like experiments. There's something satisfying abo

ssion thoughtful. There was a calmness in his movements, a quiet

gail hesitated. "You're s

. "You'll do fine. Just remember:

ft clinking of glass against glass, the faint warmth of the beaker in her hands, and

s this your dad's way of leaving

. collecting hobbies. This was one of his phases. He used to talk about how crystals were natur

his words. "Still, it's pretty amazing. I mean, most peo

this time. "True. But it's even

ned back, gesturing to a nearby shelf. "See those?" he asked, pointing

grew?" Abigail asked, he

d of addicting

eyes. He was more than the quiet, observant classmate she'd always tho

as I thought, Sanders," sh

table. "And maybe you're not a

off guard, and she bl

e this way of carrying yourself, like nothing

y recovered, smirking. "Don't get used t

, shaking his

hter, more familiar. Abigail couldn't help but feel a small

he sparkling jars they'd left behind, she couldn't he

nd to R

and as the rest of the house, with a four-poster bed draped in white linens, a plush armchair by the window, and a vanity adorned with intricate c

his hands shoved into his pockets

im, raising an eyeb

the doorframe. "Yeah. You s

o the room. It felt surreal, like she'd stepped into

niform crisp and her demeanor polished. "Miss Abigail, m

gail echoed, feelin

"Yes, miss. Shall I

by her wide-eyed reaction. "

Clara gestured toward an adj

id Seriously? but he just waved h

ough to swim in. Abigail sank into the warm, fragrant water Clara had drawn for her, letting the tension of the day melt

was waiting for her on the small table by the window. It was a beautifully arranged tr

ou need, miss?" Clara ask

Thank you," Abigail

ft, closing the doo

ere holding two steaming mugs, his expression easygoing bu

fingers brushing his briefly

rframe. "I figured you might be over

omile, warm and soothing. "That's one way to put

t doesn't always feel like that when you li

ding. There was a vulnerability in his

ay, chasing their next big find. They send postcards, call once in a while, but... it's

she cared to admit. She wanted to say something, to share her own experi

d softly, "That

lipping for a moment. "It is, sometimes. But hey,

ting his effort to lig

to leave, he paused and glanced back. "If

" she said, her

tirring something deep within her. For the first time, she realized they weren't so different. Behind the grand walls of his mansion and

self to feel something unexpected-a flick

g: The Garden a

tillness of the house was almost soothing, a rare moment of peace that she wasn't accustomed to. S

Ethan's grand house, the crystal experiment, the quiet tea he'd brought

: Ethan made her feel seen. Not as the girl with the perfect face or the high school wallflower trying to stay out of the spot

starting t

e page. Then she closed the journ

s voice followed, cheerful and inviting. "Abi

y in jeans and a light sweater, a playful grin

nd through the sprawling halls. Ethan led her out the back do

with dew. Roses climbed trellises, hydrangeas formed pastel clouds al

bigail said, her voice

ds into his pockets. "She's not here much, but this

at the thoughtfulness of his gestur

to name a flower or share a memory tied to the space. As they ro

said, suddenly looking bashfu

it carefully. It was a poem, writt

en full o

om stan

ength, a ge

y born

gnant, echoing sentiments that felt almost... familiar. She glanced

her gaze dropping back to the poem. "It loo

sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I

ng-confusion, surprise, and something else

ure how. It started as a way to express how I felt wit

hest as the weight of his

hing, I need to be honest about something else. I kno

her like a wave. Jane, her closest friend, had been open about he

his voice quiet. "But I can't pretend I don't feel something for yo

ide her, something undeniable. But the thought of Jane, of her laughter and the way

said finally, her voice

gentle. "Take your time, Abigail. I

unspoken emotions, Abigail realized that this was a moment that coul

ing: The Cr

stals in chemistry class. The teacher, clearly impressed, hel

her eyes gleaming with approval. "This level

lsewhere. Ethan's confession lingered in her mind, and ev

e were walking through someone else's life. She caught herself glancing at Ethan mor

ening: Ja

when she heard a knock on the door. She opened it to find Ja

imed, pulling her int

d apart, Abigail noticed something different about her friend. Jane looked tired, yes,

" Abigail ask

lize how fragile life is. One moment, he was there, laughing and planning his future. The next..." She trailed off, taking a sh

tightening. "I'm glad you'r

as children. "He always told me to go for what I wanted, to be fearless." She set the photo

voice steady. "I'm going to t

a punch to the gut. "What

s too short to keep things bottled up. I've liked Ethan for so long, and if I don't tell him now, I m

with everything that had happened over the weekend: Ethan's

tion. "You don't think

ered, forcing a smile

il for encouragement. "Thanks, Abby. I

re leaving the room with a bounce in her step. Abigai

m the garden repl

nd your friend... But I can't prete

who'd always been there for her-was ab

ournal. The pages, once a refuge for her thoughts, no

nd more importantly,