After our family dinner, we finally arrived home. The moment we stepped inside, I let out a tired sigh, stretching my arms as I turned to my parents.
"I'm exhausted," I admitted, rubbing my temples. "I think I'll head straight to bed."
Mom smiled warmly and placed a gentle hand on my arm. "You had a long day, sweetie. Get some rest."
Dad gave me a quick kiss on the forehead. "Good night, princess. Sleep well."
"Good night, Mom. Good night, Dad," I said, flashing them a small smile before making my way toward the stairs.
As I climbed up to the third floor, my steps felt heavier with each passing second. My body was screaming for sleep, and all I could think about was the comfort of my bed. The house was quiet except for the faint ticking of the grandfather clock in the hallway.
Reaching my room, I pushed the door open and immediately kicked off my shoes. The familiar scent of my vanilla-scented candles filled the air, instantly soothing me. Without wasting another second, I changed into my pajamas and slipped under the warm covers, letting out a satisfied sigh.
"Finally," I whispered to myself, staring at the ceiling.
As my eyelids grew heavy, my thoughts drifted back to everything that had happened today-school, Sam, and... Professor Elsher.
Shaking my head, I pulled the blanket over me and closed my eyes.
I'll think about it tomorrow.
And with that, I let sleep take over.
---
Jill giggled beside me as she carefully guided my steps. "Just a little further," she said excitedly. My heart pounded in anticipation.
"Jill, where are you taking me?" I asked, my hands reaching out in the dark as the blindfold over my eyes kept me from seeing anything.
"Patience, Noa," she teased. "Trust me, you're gonna love this."
I sighed dramatically. "You know I'm not a fan of surprises, right?"
"And yet, here we are," she laughed, finally stopping. "Okay, we're here. Ready?"
Before I could respond, she gently untied the blindfold, and as soon as my vision adjusted, my breath caught in my throat.
We were in our place-the rooftop where Jill, Josh, and I used to spend endless nights talking about life, dreams, and silly teenage fantasies. But tonight, it looked different.
Fairy lights were strung around the railing, casting a soft, golden glow against the dark sky. A small round table was set up in the center, covered in white linen, with two lit candles flickering in the night breeze. Rose petals were scattered across the floor, and a single violin track played softly in the background. It felt magical.
I turned to Jill, my eyes wide. "W-what is this?"
She grinned and took a step back. "Not my cue," she whispered before slipping away.
Confused, I spun around-only to see him.
Josh stood a few feet away, hands tucked in his pockets, a nervous but affectionate smile on his face. He looked effortlessly handsome under the dim lights, his usual confidence laced with something more vulnerable tonight.
"Josh?" I breathed.
"Hey," he said softly, stepping closer. "You always said you didn't like surprises, but I figured... maybe you'd make an exception for this one."
I swallowed hard, my heart hammering against my ribs. "What's going on?"
He exhaled, as if steadying himself. "Noa... we've been through so much together. You're stubborn, impossible, and way too competitive for your own good." He chuckled, then met my gaze with something deeper. "But you're also kind, brilliant, and the only person who can make my world feel complete."
I felt my breath hitch as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box. My eyes widened.
"Wait-"
Josh laughed. "Not a ring, don't panic." He opened the box, revealing a delicate silver bracelet with a small charm in the shape of a cello. "But this... this is a promise. That no matter what happens, no matter how much life tries to pull us apart, I choose you."
Tears pricked my eyes as he took my hand gently.
"Noa Schmid, will you be my girlfriend?"
For the first time in a long time, I was speechless.
I stared at Josh, my heart thundering in my chest. The way he looked at me-so sure, so sincere-made my knees weak.
A slow smile spread across my lips as I felt the weight of his words settle in my chest. "You really set all of this up?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Josh chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah. I wanted this to be special. You deserve special, Noa."
I glanced down at the silver bracelet, my fingers brushing over the cello charm. It was beautiful, thoughtful-him.
I looked back up at him, feeling my throat tighten with emotion. "Of course, yes," I finally breathed.
Josh grinned, relief washing over his face. "Yeah?"
I nodded, biting my lip to keep from grinning too hard. "Yeah."
Before I could say anything else, he gently took my wrist and fastened the bracelet around it. His fingers lingered for a moment before he intertwined them with mine.
"You have no idea how long I've been waiting to hear that," he murmured.
I let out a soft laugh, but the warmth of the moment was quickly overshadowed by a sinking realization. My grip on his hand tightened as I whispered, "Josh... no one can know about this."
His brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"
I swallowed hard, suddenly feeling cold despite the warmth of the fairy lights. "My mom. She-she would never approve of this. Of us."
Josh's face darkened slightly. "Why?"
I hesitated, glancing away. "Because she already has my life planned out. The music, the school, everything. And you... you're not part of that plan."
Josh sighed, stepping closer, his voice gentler now. "Noa, you're not a child. You get to choose your own happiness."
I laughed bitterly. "You don't know my mom. She's relentless, Josh. If she finds out about us, she'll make sure we're never even in the same room again."
He was quiet for a moment, then he nodded slowly, understanding settling into his eyes. "So we keep this between us?"
I looked up at him, my chest tight. "We have to."
Josh exhaled through his nose, and for a second, I thought he'd argue. But then he lifted our intertwined hands and pressed a soft kiss to the back of mine.
"Then it's our secret," he said simply.
I let out a shaky breath, squeezing his hand in silent gratitude. "Thank you."
Josh smiled, his thumb tracing circles on my skin. "Just promise me one thing?"
"What?"
"No matter what happens, we fight for this. For us."
I nodded, my eyes stinging. "We fight."
And in that moment, I prayed we'd be strong enough to keep that promise.
Josh's expression softened as he cupped my face gently, his thumbs brushing against my cheeks. "Noa, I already know your mom doesn't approve of me. And you know what? That's okay."
I swallowed hard, my heart pounding. "Josh-"
He shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Noa, I don't need her approval. I just need you."
His words sent a shiver down my spine. The way he looked at me, so full of certainty, made my chest ache.
Before I could say anything, before my doubts could spill out, he closed the space between us. His lips met mine in a slow, passionate kiss, pouring every unspoken promise into it. I melted into him, my hands gripping his shirt as his arms wrapped tightly around me, pulling me closer.
The world faded. There was no controlling mother, no expectations, no fear-just us. Just this moment.
When we finally pulled away, he rested his forehead against mine, his breath warm against my lips. "We'll figure this out, Noa. I don't care what anyone says-I'm not letting you go."
Tears burned at the corners of my eyes, but I nodded, unable to find words.
Josh gently lifted my chin, his deep eyes locking onto mine. "I love you past the stars," he whispered, his voice filled with so much warmth it sent a shiver down my spine.
I blinked up at him, momentarily stunned. The words were beautiful, but I had no idea how to respond. Seeing my confusion, he chuckled softly and brushed a strand of hair behind my ear.
"Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you," he said with a playful smirk. "This is how my mom and I used to say I love you to each other. Whoever says I love you past the stars has to be answered with and into forever."
Understanding dawned on me, and I nodded, a small smile playing on my lips.
"Got it?" he asked, tilting his head slightly.
I nodded again.
His grip on my waist tightened slightly as he repeated the words, this time even more tenderly. "Noa Ysabelle Schmid, I love you past the stars."
Taking a deep breath, I met his gaze and whispered, "And into forever."
Josh's face lit up with pure happiness before he pulled me in for another kiss-deep, slow, and filled with every unspoken promise between us. I felt my heart swell, every lingering fear momentarily washed away by the warmth of his touch.
Just as we pulled apart, a dramatic gagging sound broke the moment.
"Oh my god, you guys are disgustingly cute," Jill groaned, making exaggerated puking gestures.
Josh and I burst into laughter as she grinned, holding up her phone. "I got it all on camera, by the way. You're welcome."
I rolled my eyes but couldn't stop the smile on my face.
Because for the first time in a long time, I truly felt like I wasn't alone in this fight.
---
I woke up with a gasp, my chest rising and falling as I tried to steady my breath. The dream... It was slipping away like sand through my fingers, the details fading the more I tried to grasp them.
But one thing stood out.
The bracelet.
A cello charm.
I stared at my wrist, but it wasn't there. I wasn't wearing it. Still, I remembered it so vividly, as if I had once held it in my hands, felt its weight against my skin.
Where was it now? Did I still have it? And more importantly... who gave it to me?
I closed my eyes, trying to force the image back into my mind, but everything else in the dream was blurred-his face, his voice, everything except that bracelet.
Why did it feel so important?
Suddenly, my alarm blared, pulling me out of my thoughts. I groaned, rubbing my temples as I reached for my phone to turn it off.
The memory of the dream was already slipping further away, but the image of the cello bracelet lingered. I shook my head, trying to brush off the strange feeling settling in my chest.
Maybe it was just a dream.
Maybe it didn't mean anything.
But deep down, I wasn't so sure.
I was about to head to the bathroom when a sudden thought hit me. My steps faltered, and without a second thought, I turned back toward my bed. My hands trembled as I reached for the small cabinet beside it.
I crouched down, feeling along the smooth wood underneath. My fingers brushed against something-something small and familiar. My heartbeat quickened as I carefully pulled it out.
A small, slightly crumpled envelope.
With shaky hands, I tore it open, my breath hitching the moment I saw what was inside.
The bracelet.
The same cello bracelet from my dream.
A choked sob escaped my lips as I carefully traced its every detail; the delicate silver chain, the tiny cello charm that dangled from it, the way it felt so achingly familiar. My tears fell freely, blurring my vision, but I didn't understand why I was crying.
Why did this bracelet feel so significant?
Why did it make my chest tighten with so many emotions I couldn't name?
I clutched it close to my chest, swallowing the lump in my throat as a deep sense of longing washed over me. Like something-or someone-was missing.
As I finished getting ready, I took one last deep breath, trying to shake off the lingering emotions clouding my mind. Whatever this bracelet meant, whoever had given it to me... it wasn't something I could figure out right now.
I grabbed my bag, straightened my posture, and walked out of my room, forcing a small, determined smile.
The past could wait.
For now, I had to focus on today.
As I stepped out of the house, the morning sun cast a soft glow over the world. And in that moment, I knew that whatever memories were lost... fate would find a way to bring them back.