Evermore || Connor Bedard

Chapter One: Gold Rush

     The atmosphere inside the cafe was serene, with only two individuals present - Hailey, the regular night worker, and Sage, who frequently visited the cafe every night. Sage's oversized hoodie and sweatpants concealed her petite frame as she sat in her favorite booth, right beside the fireplace that was lit every night. She always had a book in her hand, lost in the world of words enclosed in the pages.

   The peaceful ambiance of the cafe was what Sage loved the most. At night, no one came in, and the stillness of the surroundings provided her with the comfort she craved. There was no one to talk to or look at, and Sage found solace in that.

   Despite her preference for solitude, Sage often engaged in lengthy conversations with Hailey, who happened to be one of her closest friends. However, Sage's bond with her roommate, Maelyn, and her best friends, Italy and Quince, was much stronger. None of them knew about her nightly visits to the cafe, and she made sure to sneak out when she knew Maelyn would be asleep and returned before she woke up.

    Sage was terrified of them finding out, as she didn't want to burden them with her troubles. She tried to hide the deep purple bags under her eyes, which were a result of her sleepless nights. She knew her friends would understand if they knew fully what had happened that night, but the fear of their reaction was too much to bear.

   The memories of that night were still vivid in her mind, and she couldn't escape its grip on her. The touch, the smell, the thoughts - everything was still so alive that it felt like it was happening all over again. Sage's heart shattered that night, and the pieces still lay broken inside her, killing her slowly. She wondered if anyone had heard the sound of it breaking.

    Sage was determined to keep her secret hidden, not wanting to worry or burden her friends. All she wanted was for them to be her best friends, nothing more, nothing less.

     The early morning sun filtered through the large windows of the quiet café, painting the room in a warm, golden light. I sat comfortably in my booth, surrounded by the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the sound of pages rustling in my book. The café was quiet, almost eerily so. The only sounds were the occasional clink of a spoon against a cup or the soft hum of a laptop.

      As I sat in the cozy café, I couldn't help but observe my surroundings. There were only three other people in the café with me, creating an atmosphere of peace and tranquility. The lady sitting on the other side of the cafe from me was hunched over her newspaper and Sudoku puzzle. Her brow was furrowed in concentration as she erased and rewrote numbers, trying to solve the tricky puzzle. I couldn't help but wonder if she was a regular at this café, coming in every morning to enjoy her coffee and puzzle.

     The man in a suit, on the other hand, sat by the fireplace, his fingers tapping away at his keyboard. He seemed to be completely immersed in his work, typing away without a care in the world. Now and then, he took occasional sips of his hot coffee, his eyes never leaving the screen. I wondered what kind of work he was doing, and what was so important that he had to work on it on a weekend.

     Hailey, the barista, sat behind the counter, her face illuminated by the soft blue light of her phone as she chuckled at something she saw. I couldn't help but smile at her contagious laughter. She was always so cheerful and friendly, greeting every customer with a warm smile. As I sipped my coffee, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the peaceful atmosphere of the café and the friendly faces of the people around me.

     As I looked up, I noticed a boy walking in wearing a chunky raincoat, his coat drenched with water. He smiled at Hailey and walked up to the counter to place his order. His voice was soft and soothing, and I felt like I knew him from somewhere, but I couldn't quite place it.

    I couldn't help but watch as the familiar face scanned the room for an empty seat. It didn't take long for him to spot one, and he sat down across from me. It was then that I realized it was Connor, my childhood best friend from whom I had moved away without any prior notice.

    He seemed lost in thought, his fingers scrolling through his phone, his dirty-blond hair falling into his eyes. It had been years since I had last seen him, and I couldn't believe he was sitting right in front of me. I didn't think he recognized me, and I felt guilty for not speaking to him.

     As I watched him, he appeared to be stressed and anxious, and I wondered if he ever received help for his anxiety. I knew Connor struggled with anxiety in the past, but he always found ways to cope with it. However, having been drafted as the number one overall pick to Chicago, I could only imagine the added pressure and stress that came with it.

     I wanted to reach out to him, but I didn't want to invade his privacy. I hoped that he would look up and recognize me, but he remained focused on his phone. Part of me wanted to ask him how he was doing, but the other part of me felt guilty for not keeping in touch with him all these years.

     As I sat there, lost in my thoughts, I couldn't help but wonder how different our lives would have been if I had never moved away. If the accident had never happened. Perhaps we would still be best friends, and I would be there to support him through this difficult time. But now, all I could do was watch him from afar and hope that he was doing okay.

     I resisted the urge to comfort him, even though every fiber of my being wanted to slide out of my booth and into his embrace. Instead, I picked up my book and read, trying to distract myself from the itch in my arms.

      After five hours, I finally got up to leave, my legs stiff from sitting for so long. I hoped to avoid being seen by Connor as I rushed out of the café and into the chilly Chicago weather.

      As I walked down the street clutching my cup of coffee tightly, seeking comfort in its warmth. The aroma of the freshly brewed coffee was soothing, and I took deep breaths, trying to calm my nerves.

     As I walked, I couldn't help but think about Quince, my closest friend. She knew about the accident, but not all the details. I didn't want to worry her unnecessarily, and so I kept some things to myself. Quince and I had been through a lot together, and our bond was unbreakable. But I didn't want to burden her with my troubles.

      The accident had left me shaken and vulnerable. I couldn't stop replaying the events of that day in my head. The emotional toll had been overwhelming. I felt like a burden like I was dragging everyone down with me. I didn't want my friends to worry about me, even though I knew they would.

      As I sipped my coffee, I tried to push the negative thoughts out of my head and focus on the present. I was grateful to be alive, grateful for the love and support of my friends. I knew that at some point I would get through this, that I would come out stronger on the other side.

     With a deep breath, I continued on my way home.

What must it be like
To grow up that beautiful?
With your hair falling into place like dominoes
My mind turns your life into folklore

!! Authors note !!
I hope you guys enjoyed and welcome to Evermore.
This used to be Lucid Pact!!
WARNING: there will be descriptions of violence and gore so please do not proceed if you think you could possibly be triggered !!
Thank you for reading!!
Love you guys...