Chapter 48

Celeste

That night, as I walked back to Fiona’s house in the dark, my heart was filled with the butterflies from my date with Matt.

It had been magical to say the least, and yet I knew that it was something I couldn’t pursue.

I wouldn’t see him again, especially not after how close I had come to accidentally revealing my identity. I was getting too comfortable, and it was bound to end in disaster. The decision weighed heavy on me, but it was one I knew I had to make.

The path to Fiona’s house was familiar, yet in the dark it took on an eerie quality. The shadows seemed to dance, and the wind whispered through the trees. I wrapped my coat tighter around myself, my thoughts still on Matt’s eyes, his laugh, the way he had looked at me.

Suddenly, a growl in the bushes froze me in my tracks. I strained to see, my eyes wide with terror. Was it a dog? A bear? My breath caught in my throat as the creature rustled the bushes, its movements deliberate and menacing.

“Is anyone there?” I called out, my voice trembling, betraying my fear. The words seemed to hang in the air, unanswered.

I strained my ears, hoping for a human response, but there was only silence. The dark seemed to close in around me, and I felt a chill run down my spine.

As I continued walking down the path, the growl I had heard echoed in my mind, haunting and unfamiliar. My footsteps seemed muffled as if the world was holding its breath, waiting. The wind had stilled, and the only sound was my own ragged breathing.

Suddenly, the sound came again. This time, it was louder, even more menacing. I froze in my tracks and whirled around, my hands curled into fists.

“Who’s there?” I tried again, my voice louder this time, a note of panic creeping in. “Come out!”

Again, no response. The silence was deafening, almost tangible, and I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck standing up.

The growl came again, closer this time, and I felt a wave of terror wash over me. It was no ordinary animal sound; it was deeper, almost otherworldly.

I peered into the bushes, my eyes wide, my heart pounding in my chest. The shadows seemed to move, and I thought I saw a glimpse of something large, something that didn't belong.

“It’s not real,” I whispered to myself, trying to calm my racing thoughts. “It’s just your imagination.”

But the fear was real, and it gripped me with an intensity I had never felt before. I stood there, frozen, unable to move, unable to look away.

The bushes rustled again, and I saw it—a big, shadowy figure, its eyes gleaming in the dark. It was unlike anything I had ever seen, its form vague and indistinct, but its presence unmistakable.

I screamed, my voice high and piercing, my body finally responding to the terror that had seized me. I turned and ran, my mind filled with images of the monster, its growl echoing in my ears.

Fiona’s house was my only sanctuary, and I sprinted towards it, not daring to look back. I reached the door, fumbling with the keys before bursting inside, my breath ragged and tears streaming down my face.

“I saw a monster!” I cried, my words tumbling out in a frantic jumble. “I-It was huge, bigger than a bear—”

Fiona was there in an instant, her arms around me, her voice soothing. “Shh, Celeste, it’s okay. It was probably just a regular animal. You’re safe now.”

She guided me to the couch, her gentle presence calming my racing heart. But the image of the creature’s eyes stayed with me, haunting my thoughts.

“It was so big, Fiona,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Fiona held my hand, her eyes filled with understanding. “It’s alright, Celeste. You’re safe now, and it was probably just your imagination playing tricks on you.”

I wanted to believe her, but the terror I had felt was real. Still, in Fiona’s presence, the fear began to ebb away, and I found myself telling her about the night’s events.

“Oh, Matt sounds wonderful,” Fiona gushed, her eyes sparkling. “He seems so sweet and kind. You two clearly like each other a lot.”

I felt a pang of guilt, the happiness of the night overshadowed by my decision. “I can’t go out with him again,” I said, my voice breaking.

Fiona looked at me, her expression filled with concern. “Why not, Celeste? It’s clear you’re smitten with him.”

I shook my head, tears in my eyes. “He would never forgive me if he found out the truth about me.”

Fiona reached out and cupped my face, her voice gentle. “Celeste, you don’t know that. From what you’ve told me, he seems like he would understand. Don’t let fear hold you back. Do what your heart wants.”

Her words resonated with me, but I couldn’t shake the doubt that gnawed at me. How could Matt ever accept me with all my secrets?

That night, I fell asleep with thoughts of Matt swirling in my head, wondering if I should take a chance, if I should go out with him again. As I drifted off to sleep, the images of him began to blend and take shape in a dream.

I found myself standing before Matt, his eyes warm and inviting, the way they were when he looked at me during our date. We were in a place that felt both familiar and foreign, surrounded by soft, ethereal light.

“Let me see you, truly see you,” he said, his voice gentle yet insistent.

I felt a pang of fear, the mask I wore hiding the truth about me. Could he ever accept me as I really was? But his eyes were trusting, full of understanding, and I found myself reaching up to remove the mask.

As I took it off, I braced for rejection, for the shock and horror in his eyes. But it never came. Matt simply smiled, his eyes filled with love and acceptance.

“You are beautiful, Celeste,” he whispered, “just as you are.”

The dream was filled with such a sense of rightness, such profound peace, that I awoke with tears in my eyes. The memory lingered, wrapping me in warmth and making me wonder if, perhaps, the dream could be a glimpse of a future that might be possible with Matt.

If I could find the courage to show him the real me, would he respond the way he did in my dream? The thought both terrified and thrilled me, leaving me with a decision to make and a heart filled with hope.

When I woke up the next morning, Matt was still on my mind. The connection we’d shared, the spark between us—it was something I couldn’t ignore. As I lay in bed, my decision became clear.

Just one more date, I thought to myself, as though that somehow rationalized what I was about to do. Just one more date, and then never again.

As if I hadn’t already told myself that a million times before.

With trembling fingers, I unblocked his number and sent him a text. My heart was in my throat as I typed the words, my emotions a whirlwind of hope and fear.

“Hey,” I wrote, my fingers trembling as I typed. “Sorry about last night... But I'd like to see you again. Care for a second date?”

I hit send, my breath catching as I waited for his response. The seconds ticked by, each one an eternity, until finally, his reply came.