Lexi pushed open the door to her room and stepped into the hallway, the faint scent of breakfast wafting up the staircase. Her stomach rumbled in response, spurring her to take the steps two at a time. By the time she reached the dining room, the aroma of French toast, maple syrup, and freshly brewed coffee was irresistible. She couldn't help but smile as she slipped into a chair at the table, where her mom sat sipping lemon tea, the morning paper folded neatly beside her.
"Good morning, Mom," Lexi greeted, her voice warm yet eager.
Her mom looked up, her face lighting with a smile that always made Lexi feel safe. "Good morning, my angel. Did you sleep well?"
"Like a rock," Lexi replied with a grin. "What about you?"
"Quite well, thank you," her mom said, rising gracefully to serve breakfast. "Let's eat before the day runs away from us."
They ate in companionable silence, savoring the meal. Lexi's mom placed a generous serving of French toast on her plate, topping it with berries and a drizzle of syrup. Lexi dug in with enthusiasm, the sweetness of the toast paired perfectly with the tartness of the fruit.
When breakfast was done, Lexi grabbed her bag and made her way to the garage. Sliding into the passenger seat of their car, she closed the door behind her with a quiet click. The scent of leather and her mom's signature vanilla air freshener filled the small space as she waited, her mind already racing through the possibilities of the day ahead. Something told her that today would be anything but ordinary.
Lexi leaned back in the car seat, the soft hum of the engine a soothing backdrop as she rummaged through her backpack. She pulled out her old phone, its familiar weight resting comfortably in her hand. Though she had a brand-new phone gleaming with high-tech features, this one held a special place in her heart. It wasn't just a device; it was a piece of her, filled with memories and connections she wasn't ready to leave behind.
Powering it on, she decided to explore something that had been nagging at the back of her mind her gifts. The old phone had been with her through thick and thin, and she felt an inexplicable connection to it, as though it held answers to questions she hadn't yet asked. The other birthday gifts, tucked neatly in her bag, would have to wait for another time. Showing them to her mom wasn't a priority, not yet. She would know when the time was right.
The screen lit up, Lexi's fingers instinctively tapped the icon for her favorite reading app. The notification of a new chapter from My Journalist Girlfriend by Lisa_Lucy brought a spark of excitement to her eyes. She opened the latest update, her surroundings fading into the background as she dove into the world of Dizerta and Lucy.
★★★
The story picked up in a whirlwind. Dizerta and Lucy had just appeared in the living room, materializing out of thin air. Dizerta's arms were still wrapped protectively around Lucy, but the moment she realized it, her reaction was swift and fierce. She shoved him away with such force that he stumbled back. Though his body quickly regained its balance, his heart faltered under the weight of her fury.
"What the hell was that, Dizerta?" Lucy's voice was like a tightly coiled spring, on the verge of snapping. Her fiery gaze bore into him, each word a dagger aimed straight for his chest. "Seriously, you can go out with anyone, but you want me to be alone? You let other girls get close to you, laugh with you, hold on to you. But when a guy even looks at me, you show up out of nowhere like some self-appointed knight in shining armor, scaring them off. Why? Why do you keep doing this?"
Dizerta's jaw tightened, but he remained silent, his eyes darkening. Lucy's voice rose, her anger spilling over. She stepped closer, her words hitting harder with every step. "Why do you want me to live in a cage? You're always there, watching, waiting, controlling. I'm not some fragile little thing you have to protect from the world, Dizerta! I'm not yours to keep!"
Her voice cracked, but her rage gave her strength. "I can't laugh. I can't be happy. I can't even breathe without you interfering. And you never explain why! You just act like I should understand, like I should be grateful. But I'm not grateful. I'm exhausted."
Dizerta's face remained unreadable, but inside, his thoughts churned. How could he tell her the truth? That she wasn't just a human disguised as a demon, but a human spellbound to survive in a world of monsters? That the witches' magic only made her appear as one of them and that without him, she'd be an easy target for the predators lurking in the shadows? He clenched his fists, his calm facade cracking slightly.
Lucy turned her back on him, her voice trembling but resolute. "You know what? Do whatever you want. But I'm done. I'm done being your project, your responsibility, your burden."
Her footsteps echoed as she stormed toward the door. She paused, her hand resting on the doorknob, her shoulders tense. "I'm tired of being trapped in your world, Dizerta. I deserve to live my own life, to make my own choices. I'm not a toy you can put on a shelf when you're done playing."
The door slammed shut behind her, the sound reverberating through the room like a final verdict. Dizerta stood frozen, her words replaying in his mind like a cruel melody. Protecting her was all he had ever wanted, but now, he couldn't help but question his actions. Was he saving her from danger… or suffocating her with his love?
Silence settled, Dizerta sank into the nearest chair, his hands trembling. The truth he had been shielding her from was far more terrifying than she could imagine. The world wasn't safe for someone like her, a human cloaked in a demon's guise. Would she ever understand? Or had he just pushed her further away, toward the dangers he had spent his life keeping her from?
For the first time in years, Dizerta felt the weight of doubt pressing down on him. If this was the beginning of the end, then he wasn't sure he was strong enough to face it.
Lexi was still engrossed in her reading when the car door opened with a soft click. Her mom, Fiona, slid into the driver's seat and closed the door with a practiced ease. "Lexi, I'm here," she said warmly, starting the car. "Are you ready for our mother-daughter day?"
Lexi quickly finished the last line of the chapter, her mind still lingering on the tension between Dizerta and Lucy. She dropped her phone into her bag and smiled. "Yes, Mom. I'm ready."
They pulled out of the driveway, Fiona glanced at Lexi through the rearview mirror. Something about her daughter's demeanor seemed off. Lexi was quiet, more reflective than usual, her thoughts clearly elsewhere. "Lexi, is everything okay?" her mom asked, her voice tinged with concern.
Lexi hesitated, her fingers tracing the seam of her jeans. She debated whether to say it, but the words slipped out before she could stop them. "I was just wondering, Mom… What does Dad look like?"
The silence that followed was heavy, broken only by the soft hum of the car engine. Fiona's grip on the steering wheel tightened, her knuckles turning white. With a sudden jolt, she pressed the brakes, bringing the car to an abrupt halt. The sudden motion startled Lexi, her eyes darting to her mom's face.
"I've told you before, Lexi," Fiona said, her tone sharp but layered with something deeper: pain, anger, maybe both. "He's not part of our lives. He hasn't been for years, and he never will be." She exhaled shakily before continuing, her voice softening slightly. "We're doing just fine without him. You and I we're enough."
Lexi nodded, sensing the tension in the air and deciding not to push further. "I'm sorry, Mom. I won't bring it up again," she said, her voice steady, though a part of her still ached for answers.
Fiona's gaze lingered on Lexi for a moment longer before she nodded, her expression softening. She turned her attention back to the road and resumed driving. The air in the car was still thick with unspoken words, but Lexi forced herself to play along, pretending everything was fine.
★★★
When they arrived at the mall, Fiona pulled into the parking lot and stopped the car. She gave Lexi a reassuring smile, through her eyes hinted at the storm she was trying to hide. "Go on ahead, darling," she said, her voice lighter now. "I'll park properly and meet you inside."
Lexi nodded and stepped out of the car, grateful for the chance to escape the lingering tension. The moment she walked through the glass doors of the mall, her mood shifted. The inside was breathtaking twice as grand as it had seemed from the outside. The high ceilings gleamed under soft, ambient lighting, and the walls, painted in pristine white, gave the space a clean, inviting feel.
Lexi's eyes widened as she took in the golden and silver escalators gliding silently, carrying people up and down. There were also sleek, glass-paneled elevators, their doors opening and closing with a quiet whoosh. Every detail was polished and perfect, from the marble floors to the elegant chandeliers hanging overhead.
She wandered further inside, taking in the sight of boutique stores with floor-to-ceiling windows displaying everything from designer clothes to high-tech gadgets. The air smelled faintly of fresh pastries and expensive perfume. For a moment, Lexi forgot about the unease lingering from her conversation with her mom. This place was alive, buzzing with energy and possibilities. It felt like a world of its own, far removed from the quiet routine of home.
Lexi couldn't help but smile as she walked further into the mall. Maybe today wasn't so bad after all. Here, surrounded by beauty and life, she felt a little freer, like the weight of unanswered questions and unspoken words had lightened at least for now.