Elon was taken aback when he opened his front door and saw the unexpected visitor before him.
Adele stood on his doorstep, her face a mix of anticipation and uncertainty.
"Who are you?" he asked, his voice filled with curiosity and disbelief.
Adele met his gaze, a hint of sadness in her eyes as she responded, "Have I changed so much?"
Elon's mind raced, trying to place her face amidst his memories. Recognition hit him like a bolt of lightning.
"Adele?" he uttered, shock evident in his voice.
With a bittersweet smile, Adele stepped forward and entered his living room.
Her eyes wandered around the unfamiliar surroundings before settling on Elon.
"It's been so long," she said softly. "I never thought I'd see you again."
Curiosity burned within Elon as he broke the silence, his voice filled with yearning and confusion.
"How did you find me after all this time? You disappeared without a trace."
Adele sighed, her gaze fixed on the floor. "I had no choice, Elon. Your mother didn't approve of our relationship. She wanted someone more suitable for you."
Elon's eyes softened as he looked at her, still seeing the woman he had once loved.
He struggled to come to terms with the fact that she had kept herself hidden from him for so many years.
"It's like seeing a ghost. Why now, though? Why did you want to be found?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Adele nodded, tears brimming in her eyes. "I never stopped loving you, Elon. I always hoped that someday fate would bring us back together."
The weight of her words settled upon him, and Elon felt a flood of emotions.
The shock of her sudden appearance, the remnants of his love, and the realization that she had held onto him in her heart all these years collided within him. He could only gaze at her, speechless.
"I heard you're an actor now, finally living your dream," she smiled.
"It's a bit embarrassing to know you've seen me on TV," he admitted.
Adele smiled. "Well, yes, I've seen a couple of movies you were in, but the truth is I didn't recognize you until today."
Her words puzzled him, evident in his eyes and furrowed brows.
"Ann told me," she clarified.
He was taken aback. "Ann? How do you know Ann?"
Adele smiled warmly. "Ann is my best friend, Elon."
"That's shocking," he admitted.
"Yeah, I was just at her place. She showed me a photo of you." she explained.
"Oh, yeah. They cover up my birthmark to make me flawless in the movies," he said.
"I noticed," she replied.
"Well, please have a seat. What would you like to drink?" he offered, heading towards the kitchen area.
"Water is fine," she replied.
He paused his steps and turned to her again. "How did you really find me?" he inquired once more.
"The photo," she said. "You took it right outside. I recognized the neighbourhood."
"I see." He responded, resuming his steps towards the kitchen.
As she waited, her mind raced with the weight of what she knew would play out.
Moments later, Elon emerged from the kitchen, holding the glass of water in his hand.
Their eyes met, and he offered her the drink before taking his seat on the couch opposite her.
The room was silent, save for the tension that hung heavily in the air.
Unable to contain his curiosity any longer, Elon broached the subject that had been gnawing at him.
"I guess since you and Ann are best friends, surely you must know of our love for each other?"
The question hit Adele like a slap to the face, and her expression twisted into a mix of shock and disgust.
With a sigh, she firmly replied, "No, Elon. I had no idea."
Confusion etched itself onto Elon's features.
"But how is that possible? Best friends share everything," he protested, his voice laced with disbelief.
Adele's eyes narrowed, brimming with a bitter truth.
"Yes, I know everything and no, Ann doesn't love you," she answered, her voice tinged with a hint of sadness.
Elon recoiled, his shock palpable. He refused to believe it, clinging to the hope that had sustained him until now.
"That can't be true. Ann and I have something special," he insisted, his voice trembling with pain.
"Ann was only sexually attracted to you, okay?. Any woman would.
Maybe if you had a different career you could stand a chance but she would never be involved with a movie actor again.
Her past experience with one left her scarred and made her swear off relationships with actors."
Elon's heart sank, a sharp pain piercing through it.
"I thought she distanced herself because she couldn't trust me," he murmured, his voice heavy with regret.
Adele's response was swift and harsh.
"No, Elon. She distanced herself because your profession disgusts her."
The words hung in the air, fueling Elon's hurt and anger. He sprang up from the couch, his emotions raw.
"If I could put my career on hold then I am willing to give it up entirely for her.
I'm already in love with her, and I'll do anything to keep her," he declared, his voice filled with determination.
Adele, her own emotions rising, stood up defensively.
"You can't throw away your life for a woman who doesn't care about you," she admonished, her voice tinged with concern.
"I won't lose her." Elon replied angrily before storming off to his room.
"Maybe if you fought this hard for me we would have the family we always wanted!" She vented, pausing his steps.
"You made it impossible for me to find you. Changed your line, your home, your school.
For fuck sake! No one put a gun to your head for you to make the decision you made,
You- left and I survived." He said, refusing to turn to look at her.
"And now she's left but here you are, unwilling to let go." Adele said, her heart burning.
"Your words not hers." He replied in a cold tone. A second later, he resumed his steps towards his room.
She watched him go and then looked around, a mixture of sadness and hurt washed over her. With a breaking heart, she whispered softly,
"I won't lose you too. Not again."