The Diary

"Listen," Ella's soft voice called out, causing the man to stop in his tracks. He felt a presence behind him, but he didn't turn around, knowing exactly who it was. Ella awkwardly moved closer, standing right behind him, her heart racing with nerves.

She mustered the courage to tap his shoulder gently, but just as she was about to speak, she hesitated and opted for a more cautious approach, saying, "Uh, excuse me."

Once again, the man didn't turn around, and Ella interpreted his silence as a signal to keep it brief and leave. Her head lowered in embarrassment at the perceived dismissal. She was about to say something else, but before she could, the man spoke up with a mocking tone, "If you're done with this little show of yours, so I can leave?"

Confusion and embarrassment washed over Ella at his response. She shifted her gaze downward, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. Gathering her courage, she managed to stammer, "I—I wanted to say thank you."

The man turned to face her, his expression unreadable. Ella's blush deepened as she continued, "Thank you for saving my life."

He seemed taken aback by her words, his back stiffening slightly, but he still didn't turn around to fully face her. Ella realized that he might not respond, but she felt a sense of relief and closure just by expressing her gratitude.

Before the man could say anything, Ella, feeling a mixture of emotions, quickly stepped back into the bakery, sensing that he wouldn't turn around. "Thanks again," she added softly before fully retreating into the shop.

The man turned around, ready to respond, but Ella was already gone. "Guess I turned back too late," he murmured to himself, a hint of regret in his voice, before walking away.

As Ella reentered the bakery, her heart still pounding, she felt a sense of catharsis. She had mustered the courage to thank the mysterious stranger, regardless of his reaction. While she may never fully understand why he had saved her, she had found closure in expressing her gratitude.

Unbeknownst to Ella, her encounter with the enigmatic man named Adam marked the beginning of a profound connection that would draw them closer together, unraveling the intertwined threads of their pasts and paving the way for an unexpected journey of redemption, forgiveness, and love. But for now, all she knew was that she had faced her fears and expressed her gratitude, leaving her with a newfound sense of strength and resolve.

With her heart full of joy and love, Ella took her goodies and made her way to the NGO. As she arrived, she was welcomed with the soft giggles and warm hugs of the children eagerly awaiting her presence. She shared the presents with the kids and the staff, their faces lighting up with happiness and gratitude.

To Ella's surprise, the staff had prepared a little cake-cutting ceremony in honor of her graduation. Overwhelmed by the love and thoughtfulness, Ella couldn't hold back her tears of joy. She felt an overwhelming sense of belonging and purpose, knowing that she was making a positive impact on the lives of these children.

Throughout the cherished day spent with the kids, Ella couldn't help but feel a deep sense of fulfillment. Tori, who had been with her every step of the way, knew the significance of this day and the emotions it brought to Ella. Seeing her best friend's tears of happiness only made the bond between them stronger.

After the eventful day, Ella returned home, tired but content. Tori dropped her off and bid her farewell, knowing that Ella needed some rest after the emotional day.

Upon opening the door, Ella was greeted by her parents, who were sitting in lounge chairs, enjoying a television show. They looked up as soon as they saw Ella, asking her how her day was.

"Unforgettable," Ella replied with a smile, her eyes reflecting the joy she had experienced.

"Come here and sit with us," her father suggested, inviting her to join them.

Ella embraced her parents tiredly, feeling the warmth and comfort of their presence. "My angel is tired," her father remarked, noticing the tension in her muscles.

"Yeah," Ella hummed softly in agreement.

Her mother gently patted her head, causing her to close her eyes, living in the moment of love and care. "You want some hot chocolate, sweetie?" her mother offered.

Ella moved her head in denial as she hummed softly. "No, I just want to go and take a nap."

"Okay, as you please," her father said, giving her a tender peck on her temple.

She smiled and kissed both of her parents' cheeks before bidding them good night and making her way towards her room.

Opening the door to her room, Ella smiled tiredly, reflecting on her eventful day. She threw herself onto her bed, exclaiming lightly, "Ah, what a day it was."

After a while, she got up and decided to freshen up with a warm shower. Sitting back on her bed, she scrolled through her phone, reminiscing about the beautiful memories she had created that day. Her smile grew wider as she continued to browse through her social media.

But suddenly, her mind got stuck on the incident that had occurred on the road earlier. A strange feeling washed over her, leaving her a little numb and unsettled. She couldn't quite put her finger on what it was, and she tried to ignore it, covering herself in her duvet and closing her eyes. However, that peculiar feeling kept her wide awake, erasing all traces of tiredness.

"Perfect," she muttered, slightly irritated with herself. Checking the time, she realized it was not even 2 a.m. yet. Ella remarked, "Pretty normal now for me," as she got up, locked her room door, and approached the bookshelf on the right side of her room.

From the lowest shelf, she retrieved a black key hidden in a floral jar. She unlocked the second shelf and took out a plain, blue-covered diary. Ella patted the diary affectionately, speaking softly, "Ah, there you are." Sitting on her bed, she turned on the light of her nightstand and opened the diary.

This diary was something that everyone knew about, yet it held a secret part of Ella that she kept hidden from the world. While she shared her happiness and joys openly with others, her worries and sorrows found their place within the pages of the diary. Writing down her troublesome thoughts and devastating events helped her ease her mind, feeling free and unjudged.

Dear Diary,

Here I am today.

Today, I encountered a strange incident.

I was about to get into an accident. But that wasn't my concern. My concern was for the person who saved me. But most importantly, "Why?" "Why did he save me?"

I am no one to be saved for. I… I don't know how to say this, but the whole feeling is so weird.

The truck was close. I thought it was the end, but it wasn't. I was saved at the last minute. But the biggest thing was that I couldn't thank that person properly. He didn't know me but still saved me.

Regardless of any meaning,

I guess this is what my mom always tells me: "Kindness. Humanity. Helping someone without any greed or personal gain."

If in the future, by any chance, I will meet him again, I will thank him properly.

Not a stuttering mess for sure.

But, dear diary, you know how delusional I am. I just don't feel like myself when talking to strangers.

Umm… The NGO time was awesome.

Everything was just as I always wanted.

Tomorrow I have decided to work on myself.

I will start painting and writing.

But for this, I have to go to art exhibitions and libraries.

Sounds good… but tiring too.

Ah… really tiring *Yawns*

Ella closed the diary with a long yawn and a sigh. Placing it back in its place and making sure everything was in order, she headed towards her bed and covered herself with warm duvets, eventually drifting into her dreamland. With the diary by her side, she knew she could always pour her heart out and find solace in her written words.