Beth walked past the strangers on the busy city street, lost in her thoughts. The cool autumn breeze brushed against her skin, reminding her that summer had come to an end. She didn't feel the warmth that she used to, the warmth that once enveloped her like a comforting blanket. Her mind drifted back to a time when her autumn was much warmer, when the arms of her beloved Aiden were the only place she wanted to be.
Aiden. His name brought a bittersweet ache to her heart. His arms were the warmest place on earth, and his smile and eyes were the first things she wanted to see when she woke up in the morning. But now, all she felt was a void, a space where he used to reside. Unknowingly, tears welled up in her eyes and rolled down her cheeks, a silent testament to the pain she felt in her heart. She didn't know how to let go, how to free him from her mind.
The cold had now seeped into her very being, freezing her emotions in place. She felt like she would never be able to thaw from this frozen state, like she was trapped in an eternal winter. But somewhere deep inside, she held on to a sliver of hope that he was watching over her, that he still cared for her in some way. All she wanted was to run back into his arms, to feel the warmth and the love that she had lost.
As she continued walking, lost in her memories, a sudden voice broke her reverie. It was a dominant, cold voice that sent shivers down her spine. She looked up and met the piercing gaze of a man with ocean blue eyes, eyes that were beautiful yet tired. Her nervousness grew as he approached her.
Beth, what did I tell you yesterday? he barked, his impatience evident in his tone.
She stumbled over her words, unable to form a coherent response. Her mind was still stuck in the past, in the warmth of her memories with Aiden.
What cat got your tongue? Just speak, woman, he demanded, rubbing his forehead in frustration.
She finally managed to stammer out a response, promising to submit the documents by the next day. But he cut her off, his tone harsh and demanding.
And did you do that? he questioned, his eyes drilling into hers.
Her heart sank as she shook her head, admitting that she hadn't completed the task yet.
Did you plan on doing it? he pressed, his voice raising in annoyance.
She promised to have the documents on his desk by the evening, but he wasn't satisfied. He wanted them sooner, before the end of the day.
As she watched him walk away, the weight of his expectations pressing down on her, Beth couldn't help but feel a pang of longing for the warmth and love she had once known. She wished she could escape this cold, frozen reality and return to a time when her autumn was truly warm. But for now, she had to push through the chill, hoping that someday she would find her way back to the comfort and solace she had lost.
