╔═══*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*═══╗
6 months later...
-Berlin, Germany-
The snowflakes fell gently from the darkened sky, coating the city of Berlin in a pristine white blanket. It was an evening painted with loving families, thoughtful lovers, and merry people, all disregarding where the city's secrets remained buried beneath the layers of freshly fallen flurries.
Stella trudged through the snow-covered streets, her footsteps barely making a sound. Her apartment was perched in the penthouse of a towering building, overlooking the bustling city. It was an abode of luxury, a stark contrast to the morally gray path she'd been walking for the past few months.
Her face was an enigma, revealing nothing about her past, her intentions, or secrets held close to her heart. Stella had always been skilled at keeping her true self hidden, like a master of disguise.
As she unlocked the door to her empty apartment, the silence enveloped her like a shroud. Luna, a fair faithful husky, lay asleep on the plush couch, oblivious to her owner's arrival. Stella offered a brief, affectionate pat before making her way to the wide glass doors that lead to the rooftop.
She climbed the stairs in solitude, the chill in the air biting at her porcelain skin. Reaching the rooftop, she perched herself on the ledge, her gaze fixed upon the cityscape. The skyline of Germany sprawled before her, a tapestry of glowing lights and bustling life.
She observed the families and couples below, their laughter and smiles echoing in the crisp winter air. It was a world she was familiar with but had chosen to distance herself from, living in the shadows where her insecurities lie. She was alone with her never-ending thoughts, settled high above the city, as the snow continued to fall.
Enveloped in the ethereal beauty of her environment, Stella let her thoughts run wild. Stella's contemplation was interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching. She turned to her brother, Lukas, taking a seat beside her on the high ledge. He offered her a small reassuring smile as he observed the cityscape alongside her.
"You know, you can't hide up here forever," Lukas said softly "I've been worried about you, Stell. You're different now, and it's not just the city that's changed you."
Stella exhaled, her shoulders slumping over as she refused to gaze upon her brother's broken stare. "I can't go back, Lukas. Not after I did,"
Lukas nudged her gently with his shoulder. "You're not giving her enough credit, y'know? What you and Liz shared was more than love, I know it now,"
Stella's eyes glistened with a hint of sadness, a shiver running down her spine as the cold winter's air enveloped them. Her gaze dropped to her frozen hands, her rings falling loose against her skin. "She might have loved me once, but she's moved on, and I don't blame her. Trust and respect are hard to mend once they're broken."
Her brother placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, his touch making her flinch slightly. "People make mistakes, Estella. Even big ones. But that doesn't mean it's the end of everything. It's not the end of your love story."
Stella peered over at her brother, her eyes void of all hope and emotion. They had no beauty left to them anymore as she had spent days stripping her soul bare. "But it's not just about the past anymore. Our relationship and everything we had is broken beyond repairs... it's gone. It's dead."
Lukas didn't push further. He understood that his sister needed time to heal, to come to terms with her past. He gave her a shoulder a reassuring squeeze and spoke softly, "Take your time, Stella. But remember, it's never too late to try and rebuild something that's worth fighting for."
Stella watched the snowfall in silence, the burden of her past decisions heavy on her heart. She knew that deep down, her brother was right, but she also knew that rebuilding what she had lost wouldn't be easy. It would take time, effort, and the willingness to confront her own demons. But, for now, she was content to sit on that rooftop and embrace the stillness, waiting for the day when she could find her way back to happiness and, perhaps, to the love she had once known.
Stella and Lukas sat on the rooftop, each lost in their own thoughts, the snow softly falling around them. It was a moment of quiet contemplation, a brief respite from the tumultuous thoughts that had been swirling in Stella's mind.
As the city light continued to twinkle beneath them, Stella finally spoke, her voice a mere whisper. "You know, Lukas, it's not just about rebuilding our relationship. It's about rebuilding myself. I need time to find who I am again, without relying on someone else to define me."
Lukas hesitated to answer, acknowledging the true depth of the woman's words. His conscience weighed heavily upon his heart as he looked upon the shell of a woman who used to be his sister. The man stood carefully, offering his hand to the brunette as she stared into the endless horizon of snow.
Stella ran her tongue over her teeth before she leaned back to take his hand, allowing him to pull her to her feet easily. He frowned as she weighed less than she should have. "C'mon, Stell," He sighed, wrapping his arm around her as they both headed inside before the frost set in, but unfortunately it had already for one.
6 months earlier...
The sun filtered through the curtains of their shared bedroom, casting a warm, gentle glow the cascade over Stella's sleeping form. She slowly stirred, her eyelashes fluttering as lips softly placed loving kisses all over her shoulders and neck.
Lizzie lay by her side, her blonde hair draped loosely around the white linen of the bed. Her fingers traced the curve of Stella's waist as she leaned in to place delicate kisses over the brunette's skin.
Stella felt the soft press of Lizzie's lips against her shoulder and smiled, a soft contented sigh escaping her. "Mmm, morning, beautiful," she murmured, her voice laced with drowsy happiness.
"Good morning, darling," Lizzie whispered, her breath warm on Stella's skin. "Guess what day it is?"
Stella turned onto her back, gazing into Lizzie's eyes, her own filled with curiosity. "What day is it?"
With a playful glint in her eye, Lizzie leaned closer, her lips brushing over Stella's ear. "It's your birthday."
Stella's eyes widened in pleasant surprise as she realized what day it was. "You remembered?"
Lizzie nodded, her eyes shining with affection. "Of course, how could I forget, love? Happy birthday, Stella."
Stella's heart swelled with joy as she reached up to cup Lizzie's cheek, pulling her down for a loving, lingering kiss. "Thank you, bee," she whispered against the blonde's lips.
As they kissed, the sun continued to rise, casting a golden hue on their entwined figures, illuminating the room with the promise of another beautiful day together. Luna jumped onto the bed and Stella smiled, sitting up to give the pup a pet. "Hey Luns! How was your sleep?" She cooed, giggling as the hyper dog jumped all over her.
Stella's phone dinged and Lizzie leant over to get it for the girl since she didn't notice it. A notification popped up from her best friend, Vicky. Lizzie smiled, her thumb hovering over it to open it for her but then another one came through. This one more serious than the last, "El, your sugar," The blonde hummed, opening the app to see it was lower than it was meant to be.
"Alright," Stella sighed, giving Luna a kiss on her head before swinging her legs to sit up on the side of the bed.
Lizzie gave the brunette her phone as they both went downstairs, hungry for breakfast. Stella grabbed out a small apple juice from the fridge and sat on the counter stools as she checked her phone for the morning. Lizzie grabbed out oats and milk, her go to breakfast when she wanted something quick.
Stella saw Vicky's contact name and frowned instantly, looking up at her girlfriend cut up fresh fruit. Stella couldn't help but be captivated by the sight of Lizzie, even in the soft morning light. The love of her life looked effortlessly gorgeous, even just after waking up.
Lizzie's sandy blonde hair had tumbled slightly over one shoulder, its tousled waves catching the early rays of the sun and giving it a soft, golden glow. Her emerald green eyes sparkled with affection as they met Stella's gaze, their depth and warmth a testament to the love she felt for the woman beside her.
She was dressed in a loose white shirt that hung off her frame in the most appealing way, hinting at the curves beneath while emphasizing her delicate collarbones. The shirt's neckline had slipped slightly to one side, revealing her shoulder, and the sight was nothing short of mesmerizing.
Lizzie's bare legs peeked out from a pair of comfortable shorts, their subtle tan enhanced by the morning light streaming through the window. The soft, golden hue of the room added to the magic, casting a warm, inviting glow on her already radiant features.
Stella couldn't help but be captivated by the sight of Lizzie, even in the soft morning light. The love of her life looked effortlessly gorgeous, even just after waking up.
Lizzie's sandy blonde hair had tumbled slightly over one shoulder, its tousled waves catching the early rays of the sun and giving it a soft, golden glow. Her emerald green eyes sparkled with affection as they met Stella's gaze, their depth and warmth a testament to the love she felt for the woman beside her.
She was dressed in a loose white shirt that hung off her frame in the most appealing way, hinting at the curves beneath while emphasizing her delicate collarbones. The shirt's neckline had slipped slightly to one side, revealing her shoulder, and the sight was nothing short of mesmerizing.
Lizzie's bare legs peeked out from a pair of comfortable shorts, their subtle tan enhanced by the morning light streaming through the window. The soft, golden hue of the room added to the magic, casting a warm, inviting glow on her already radiant features.
"Oh Vicky texted, how is she going in Canada, was it?" Lizzie hummed, smiling as she noticed Stella's absent staring as she drank her apple juice.
Lizzie's voice hung in the air like a tentative melody, her eyes reflecting a gentle curiosity as she inquired about Vicky. She sipped her apple juice, the carton cool to her touch, as Stella's distant gaze seemed to lose itself in the liquid world.
Stella's fingers, previously tracing the rim of her phone, finally found their purpose. She unlocked the device, and a dim glow illuminated her face. Vicky's message glowed on the screen, each word an entryway to memories that stirred beneath the surface.
"Uh, yeah," Stella murmured, her voice carrying a sense of reluctant acknowledgment. The thread of messages unfolded on the screen, and for a moment, time seemed to stretch as if reluctant to let go of the past.
"She said that she's back in DC," Stella continued, her words devoid of the enthusiasm one might expect from such news. The phone, now silent, was carefully laid to rest on the pristine marble island.
Lizzie's thoughts flickered like a candle in the night, her gaze studying Stella's face, trying to read the emotions etched there. The room was hushed, the faint hum of distant city life seeping through the window.
"Do you want to invite her over?" Lizzie asked gently, recognizing the tangled history of a friendship that had weathered turbulent seas. The memories of the last encounter between Stella and Vicky lingered like an unspoken question mark, leaving an impression of unease.
Stella's response held the weight of her hesitations, the words slipping from her lips like cool, crisp water. "No."
As the words hung in the air, the room seemed to hold its breath, enveloped in a quiet that belied the emotional complexities of the situation. Lizzie, her heart aching for Stella, knew that some stories were better left untouched, like fragile glasswork that might shatter if handled too roughly.
Lizzie's eyes, bright and empathetic, met Stella's. A silent understanding passed between them as Stella's unspoken reasons for rejecting Vicky's visit became clearer.
"El, I know it's complicated," Lizzie began softly, "but Vicky's been your best friend for years. She just... caught feelings, and it's tough on her, too. I'm not saying you have to rush into anything, but maybe, you know, at least meet her for coffee or something? Keep the friendship alive."
Stella's gaze remained fixed on the cityscape outside, her thoughts a turbulent sea of conflict. She felt trapped between loyalty to her best friend and the secret she now held. Vicky had crossed a line, and while Stella didn't reciprocate those feelings, it was a secret that could never see the light of day.
"Liz, it's not just about that," Stella finally spoke, her voice a hushed confession. She turned her eyes to meet Lizzie's, a plea for understanding in their depths.
A shadow of concern flickered across Lizzie's face as she leaned closer, taking Stella's hand in her own. "What is it, El? You can talk to me."
Stella hesitated, her heart heavy with the weight of her unshared secret. "Vicky... did something bad, bee."
The words hung in the air like an unspoken truth. Stella could feel Lizzie's hand tighten around hers, their fingers entwined, but Lizzie said nothing, her eyes searching Stella's for further explanation.
Lizzie didn't understand, but knew if Stella was ready to tell her then she would. The blonde nodded, deciding to leave it for now and let Stella tell her in her own time. "I'm here for you, El," The blonde carried two bowls of oats with freshly cut fruit and honey over to sit next to Stella. She kissed the brunette's hair before sitting, both eating in a comfortable silence as Stella's mind ran wild at all the possibilities of how Lizzie could react when she finally told her.
╚═══*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*═══╝