QUIET DAYS DON'T STAY QUIET
(Quiet Days, Hidden Thoughts)
Shadow_vee
Ever since her father died every Sunday she always went to his grave to sit for a while and talk to it as if he was listening today was not an exception.
The cemetery was quiet the way Orabella liked it,too quiet for gossip, too honest for pretending it was the spot apart from her house where she could show how she really felt... emotional without pity from anyone.
She knelt in front of her father's grave, brushing away a few dried leaves before placing the small bundle of flowers she had bought on her way there. They weren't much. Just cheap simple white daisies "I know," she murmured softly, almost apologetically. "You always said it was the thought that mattered."
The breeze stirred gently, carrying the scent of earth and flowers placed on diff tombstones. For a moment, it felt like he might answer.She sat down on the grass crossing her legs like she used to when she was younger, when he would take breaks from tending to the farm animals and tell her funny stories over a glass of milk,stories that always sounded bigger than her little world.
"Work at the store is going smoothly I sold some of the animals, I'm sorry dad but I just had to since I'm not always around if it continues like this they'll become malnourished "she spoke again staring at the grave
She pulled the journal from her bag.
"I read it," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Your entry."
Her fingers tightened around the worn pages.
"I'm confused,dad. More confused than I've ever been." She let out a shaky breath. "I wish you were here. I wish you'd told me. Why didn't you say anything? Why keep something like that to yourself?"
Her gaze dropped to the name engraved on the stone.
"I need you to explain this to me,I need you dad."she said wiping the tears that was about to drop from her eyes
She laughed softly, the sound breaking just a little. "You know… maybe an arranged marriage wouldn't be so terrible after all."
She shook her head, amused at herself. "I mean, I've only had one relationship and that failed spectacularly. I haven't even had sex yet and I'm twenty-three. That's… kind of tragic, right?"
She paused.
"…I guess I've read too many novels." Her lips curved into a sad smile. "Just like you used to tease."
She stayed a while longer, letting the quiet settle into her bones, before finally standing and dusting herself off.
"I miss you," she whispered.
Back home, Orabella tended to the animals that remained, feeding them and checking the pens. She moved on instinct, the routine grounding her in ways nothing else could.
Her phone rang.
Claire.
"Tell me you're finally free today," Claire said the moment she picked up.
"I am," Orabella replied cautiously.
"Good because I'm paying, and you're coming out with me. No excuses. I refuse to let you rot on that farm forever."
Orabella laughed. "You make it sound dramatic."
"Because it is."
They settled on a small open-air lounge near the edge of town music low, laughter loud, the kind of place that felt alive without trying too hard.
At some point, while Claire was talking about her recent date with a new guy, Orabella found herself distracted her mind kept drifting back to the journal and it's content.
She needed to talk to someone but she hesitated.
She'll think I've lost it.
"…Fuck it," she muttered under her breath.
Claire blinked. "What?You've been looking lost are you okay?"
Orabella exhaled. "I found something. In my dad's things."And then she proceeded to telling her about her father's vague words in the hospital, finding the journal and reading through it's content, the promise.
Claire stared at her, mouth slowly falling open "Orabella," she breathed, "this is literally a fairy tale."
Orabella groaned. "Please don't."
"I'm serious!" Claire leaned closer. "Was there a name stated there?Tell me if this mysterious man actually comes back… would you accept?"
Orabella went quiet.
"My dad wrote that the name might have been fake,as for the other question I don't know," she said honestly. "People need time,connection,trust. You don't just marry a stranger because of some old promise. I don't even know what my dad was thinking."
But her mind betrayed her, whispering what if far too loudly.
Claire smirked. "What if he's your dream man?"
"It doesn't matter," Orabella said firmly.
Few minutes later claire's phone buzzed and her face lit up.
"What?" Orabella asked.
"Oh local news," Claire said casually and she proceeded to reading it out loud "The new heir turned CEO of the Kuiver Group was spotted together wiith the beautiful sexy model Laila. Relationship unconfirmed."
Orabella rolled her eyes. "Of course he was."
They laughed and let the day dissolve calmly.
Later that night, Orabella returned home, showered,and crashed on her bed the house was quiet again.
She tried to sleep but couldn't so she stared at the ceiling, thoughts circling endlessly in her head,promises, strangers, fate,with more questions erupting from the answered ones eventually, exhaustion pulled her under and she slept off.
And somewhere between wakefulness and sleep, fate began to stir.