Elara lay still beneath the soft folds of the guesthouse blanket, her body relaxed against the cool cotton sheets. The room was quiet, lit only by the silver spill of moonlight streaming through the open window. Outside, the stars blinked like distant thoughts, scattered across the night sky. The moon, full and bright, hung low as if it had drifted closer just for her.
She had come here alone — not to escape anyone, but to return to herself. The city’s chaos had worn her down, each day feeling heavier than the last. Deadlines, conversations, expectations… it all blurred into a noise she could no longer bear. So she packed lightly, left her phone behind, and drove until the buildings turned to trees and the sky felt bigger.
This room, small and warm, smelled faintly of lavender and wood. It was nothing special, and yet it was everything she needed. No notifications. No clock ticking. Just her, and the sound of her breath syncing with the rhythm of the wind outside.
As Elara closed her eyes, she thought of the dreams she once had — the ones she buried beneath “shoulds” and “somedays.” She imagined her younger self sitting beside her, whispering, You still can. It’s not too late.
And for the first time in months, she believed it.
A soft breeze floated in, brushing her cheek like a gentle promise. She smiled faintly, her thoughts quieting as sleep began to take her. In the hush of the night, with the moon as her witness, Elara let go of everything that wasn’t hers to carry anymore.
The world could wait.
Tonight, she was free.
