Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan) novel Chapter 2227

She flicked off the lights in her office, letting the darkness settle before she slowly made her way out.

On her way home, she passed by the diner she often visited alone for meals. Deciding on a whim, she parked and walked in.

Choosing a table for one, the warmth of the comfort food slightly eased the chill in her bones. The waitress, whom Sylvia had come to know, brought over a steaming cup of hot chocolate, a smile spreading across her face, “Working late again?”

Sylvia looked up with a warm smile, “Partly for the late-night hot chocolate fix.”

The waitress had seen Sylvia many times but was still dazzled by her beauty, “If I looked half as good as you, I’d snag myself a rich guy and quit this grind.”

Sylvia chuckled softly, “Standing on your own two feet lasts longer.”

The waitress rolled her eyes playfully, “You got that right. Independence is key for us women!”

After finishing her meal, Sylvia left the diner and drove home.

The cold outside quickly snatched away the diner's fleeting warmth.

Upon arriving home and stepping inside, the darkness and silence were almost suffocating.

She suddenly remembered a night when, feeling on the verge of giving up, she had come home wanting to message him, only to find him standing on her balcony.

It was like being lost in a dark sea and suddenly spotting a lighthouse guiding the way.

The memory of that moment felt so surreal yet was etched deeply in her heart, never to be forgotten.

Without turning on the lights, she walked towards the balcony, which, as expected, was empty and void of his presence.

She moved to her desk, pulling out a notebook. Flipping it open, she looked at the crossed-out entries: dinners, movies, shopping, wearing matching outfits.

Picking up a pen, she struck through the final “Goodbye.”

The city gave her an inexplicable sense of belonging, and she chose to stay.

Over the years, she slowly adapted to the city, getting used to a busy life. She thought she had moved on from him, grown up, become independent.

Now, she realized it was all an illusion.

And she wondered how long it would take to deceive herself again.

Sylvia sat on the floor facing the window, the darkness behind her as infinite as the night outside. She focused into the void, remembering every word he had told her.

From a young age, he taught her to be strong.

Strength, he said, is what makes a person indestructible.

And she would be. Strong, that is.