روايات بقلم Grace Ekhanemeh

The Dance of DenialElena's POVIf anyone had asked me what heartbreak looked like, I would have told them it looked like a silver necklace resting in the palm of my hand.I didn't remember walking back to the ballroom.One moment I was standing beneath the moonlight, staring at the necklace I thought Adrian had discarded years ago. The next, I was surrounded by music, laughter, and smiling faces, as though the conversation in the garden had never happened.I slipped the necklace into my clutch before anyone noticed. No one needed to know. Especially not Sophia. She was glowing.Her happiness radiated through the ballroom as she laughed with her fiancé, greeting relatives and thanking guests who had travelled from different cities to celebrate with them.Seeing her smile reminded me why I had come.Tonight wasn't about me. It wasn't about Adrian. It certainly wasn't about the ghosts we'd awakened beneath the stars."Where have you been?"Sophia's voice pulled me back to the present.I

The Confession 2Adrian watched her in silence, the words "Protect me"? hanging between them like an unanswered prayer.Elena's fingers tightened around the strap of her clutch. Part of her wanted to demand an explanation. The wiser part, the part that had painstakingly rebuilt her life after he left warned her not to believe anything he said."You expect me to believe that?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper."No," Adrian admitted. "Not yet."The honesty in his answer caught her off guard."I don't expect you to believe me because I say the words. I expect you to judge me by what I do from this moment forward."She folded her arms across her chest again, using the gesture like armour."You've had years to do something.""I know.""There it is again." Her eyes flashed with frustration. "You keep saying you know, but you don't.""I don't know everything you went through," he said quietly. "I only know I caused it."For a moment, neither of them spoke.The fountain continued

The confession Sophia hurried across the ballroom in her elegant rehearsal gown, glowing with excitement."There you are! I've been looking everywhere for you." She hugged Elena tightly before noticing Adrian standing beside them."Oh..." Her smile became uncertain."I didn't realise you'd already found each other." Elena stepped back. Sophia slipped her arm through her sister's."Come with me. Mum wants family photographs before dinner." Elena didn't argue. She welcomed the interruption more than Sophia could possibly know.As she allowed herself to be led away, she risked one final glance over her shoulder.Adrian hadn't moved. He simply stood there, watching her leave. His eyes filled with a mixture of regret and determination.The conversation had ended before it had truly begun, but deep inside, Elena knew one painful truth. Their story wasn't over. Not yet.Adrian's povI didn't answer immediately.The silence stretched between us, broken only by the gentle splash of water from

Old Wounds, New ScarsElena POVI escaped the ballroom the first chance I got. The laughter inside had become suffocating, each cheerful voice pressing against the fragile wall of composure I had spent years building. Smiles were easy to fake for strangers even for family, but pretending my heart hadn't nearly stopped the moment I saw Adrian Kane again? That required a strength I wasn't sure I still possessed.The cool night air greeted me like an old friend.I stepped onto the stone terrace and drew a slow, deliberate breath, hoping it would steady the storm raging inside me.Beyond the terrace stretched the estate's gardens, illuminated by lanterns that cast pools of golden light along winding pathways.White roses climbed elegant arches, and a marble fountain stood at the centre, its gentle trickle the only sound that seemed untouched by celebration.Sophia had always loved this place.When they were children, she used to tell me that one day she would get married somewhere that l

The EncounterThe grand ballroom shimmered beneath the glow of crystal chandeliers, their golden light spilling across polished marble floors like liquid sunshine. Fresh white roses, orchids, and cascading ivy adorned every corner of the luxurious venue, filling the air with a delicate fragrance that blended with the soft melody drifting from the string quartet positioned near the centre of the hall.Guests moved gracefully from one conversation to another, their laughter rising above the music in cheerful waves. Waiters dressed in crisp white uniforms navigated through the crowd carrying silver trays filled with sparkling drinks and delicate hors d'oeuvres. Every detail reflected elegance, wealth, and careful planning.It was exactly the kind of event Elena had spent months trying to avoid.She stood outside the entrance, staring at the enormous carved wooden doors that separated her from the celebration inside. Her fingers tightened around the silver clutch in her hand until her knu