ETHALA

Sometimes deep pain cannot be sewn tightly. And sometimes something that is already marked can't go away like we wipe the tears. Because not all pain can be healed even though we have tried with everything. Furthermore, we slowly forget that pain, as if we have a button to remove from our memory.

However, all the things that have happened in our life never leave us just like that. Something that we thought was done and had forgotten has become part of us. It become the sensitive part and a trauma.

When all the paper has been burned to ashes, all the fragments have scattered, and when the twilight has turned into night, it is a sign. The signs that we think are obvious but are actually full of puzzles. When we stand at the edge of the cliff and look down, everything looks dark. But it's actually straightforward for us to turn around and go back to looking for the way. We are drowning in negative words that endure killing us. Then we forget that every problem has a way out. Nevertheless, not everyone is destined to have a straight path. Some people are destined to have a winding and rugged road.

On July 12, 2013, Nora Clark was flying high, releasing all her pain. That morning, which was supposed to be a happy day as she turned seventeen, returned to the most sorrowful day. Right at the age of seventeen, she chose to give up and end her life. Tragic, isn't it? The day before, she still looked fine, but the next day she was gone. We can never solve the riddle about the twists and turns of someone's life because everyone must have a side that they do not want people to know.

Ella, who didn't know the news about Nora, woke up from her sleep with a nightmare that was still haunting her. But the dream was different from the previous one. This time, she was sitting in the garden, accompanied by thousands of lilies. Why was it called a nightmare? She sensed something was wrong with that, or maybe she was so worried about everything that she was drowning in a dream. Everything looked fine, even though she felt something was wrong that day.

Ella then walked and stopped at the window. Vanya was still sleeping at the time, which is a good thing. In the morning, Ella needed some time alone to start the day, at least to forget all the bad things that happened yesterday.

Suddenly she remembered the message she sent last night to Nora, and she reached for her cell phone to recheck Nora. When she opened it, there was a notification from Nora. Ella smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. Nora still replied to her message, meaning that was a good sign.

But when she read the messages one by one, her heart seemed to stop beating. Her breathing was irregular, and her vision was not clear because her eyes were filled with tears. Her trembling hands closed her mouth to hold back the urge to cry; she didn't want to wake Vanya. She read the message once again, still unable to believe what she had just read.

(Nora) Hi Ella, this is Sarah. I'm Nora's mom. I am very grateful because you care about Nora, at least I know that there is a friend who really cares about her situation. can you come to my house? I'll send you the address. I have tried to call you, but maybe you still fall asleep.

(Nora) Perhaps this doesn't sound easy to you, because I also can't accept this fact. Nora is no longer with us, oh dear. She ended her life last night, but she left a letter for you.

(Nora) take your time. I hope you are alright hearing this news, sweetheart.

Sobs escaped Ella's mouth. She couldn't hold it in anymore. She tried to breathe normally as the pain in her chest kept pressing down on her more and more. This was all her fault; it was what Ella had in mind at that time. If only she had refused Nora's request, Nora would not have made this decision. But it was too late. All grays had changed to black instead of white.

Ella stood up and glanced at the Vanya for a moment, after that she ran to get her car keys and got out of her house. She even left her cell phone because she didn't want anyone to find it at that time. Ella did not go to Nora's house. There was no way she could be able to see Nora like that if she knew the cause of Nora's death was herself.

Ella, who was crying and sobbing, driving a car with an above-average speed. She didn't know where to go. She just needed space for herself to calm down.

"AAAAAAAA!!!" shouted Ella with a loud burst of pain in her chest. She could not accept all of this. How could she? Ella hit the steering wheel of the car many times to vent the anger inside her. At that time, she was not focused on the road, and because she was driving at high speed, she almost hit the divider between the high cliffs.

She braked suddenly, her body pushed forward. Ella stopped there with no intention of going anywhere else. The streets are quiet because few people pass this way, particularly in the morning. Ella shouted again and ended with a sound of crying.

She was very hurt at that time. Why were so many problems coming to her life at the same time? She was not a person who could always be strong in facing problems; in fact, she is a fragile person. She didn't think she'd done anything so bad that she deserved all of this. At that time, Ella did not find anything that made her realize that she deserved happiness. Why was the universe so cruel to her? She should be able to save Nora last night, but what did she do? Nothing.

She didn't do anything, so Nora chose this unfortunate decision. Ella kept blaming herself for everything that happened at that time.

After hours she sat there, she finally felt more in control. Even though her face doesn't look like she was okay, she has started to recover because she has taken everything inside her.

Ella took a deep breath, "You can get through this, Ella."

After that, she started driving again, this time at an average speed. She had considered everything, and maybe she should go over to Nora's house. So she memorized the address that had been sent to her and headed for Nora's home.

When Ella arrived in front of a very warm house. The door to her house opened, and several people entered the house, perhaps they were Nora's family. Ella's mouth twitched, wanting to let out another sob, but she quickly wiped her tears away. She took a deep breath and got out of her car.

Her steps felt very heavy when she was in front of Nora's house. Her body was shaking. She couldn't do it. Ella shook her head and cried again when she saw Ella's mother, who was standing at the door, smiling bitterly at her and asking her to come into the house.

Ella turned around and ran away from the house. She couldn't face this reality.

Ella kept running away, but not far ahead, she saw a familiar figure in her eyes. Ella stopped running and slowly walked toward that person. The guy seemed to notice Ella's presence. The closer she got, the more she could see his face clearly.

It was clear that he was very hurt. Ella thought that she felt the saddest because she is the reason for Nora's death, but she forgot that there were still more hurt than her.

Ethan was standing in front of her smiling bitterly, his eyes red and swollen just like hers. Ella walked over to Ethan, and they stood opposite each other. Without saying anything, their eyes already explained to each other.

"Hi," said Ella.

"Why do I always meet you when you're crying, huh?" Ethan answered in a hoarse voice.

Ella chuckled and wiped her tears. "I can't, I can't bear to see her."

"It's okay, me neither," Ethan replied.

"She-she was always there at my deepest point," Ethan said in a trembling voice. He took a deep breath and resumed his sentence. "But I wasn't there when she needed someone, I wasn't there last night at her weakest point. I don't even know about that video," Ethan said, trying to hold back his tears, but he couldn't.

Ella saw Ethan's frail condition. She cried.

"Can I-- hug you?" Ella asked, but before Ethan could answer, she had already hugged Ethan.

Ethan cried on Ella's shoulder, his body trembled, and he hugged Ella tightly. "She must have had a very long and painful night and I wasn't there for her, she didn't even say goodbye." Ella rubbed Ethan's back, feeling guilty.

"I think I know her very well because she is my cousin and we often tell each other about everything. But the truth is I don't know anything about her."

Ella was very fragile when she saw Ethan's frail side. Maybe she didn't know Ethan very well, but from their brief meeting at the library, all she knew that Ethan was a friend who was eager to make everyone feel better.

After Ella felt that Ethan had gotten better, she let go of her arms and stared at Ethan intensely. "I'm sorry for your lost, but I'm sure Nora has a reason why she chose to remain silent, and she must be very lucky to have a cousin and friend like you," said Ella soothingly.

"Thank you," Ethan replied sincerely.

"Can I take you somewhere?" Ethan asked. Ella looked at her watch. It was three o'clock in the afternoon. She considered it first, she thought it would not bad to come along. Besides, somehow she felt like she could trust Ethan.

"Yes, I'll come with you."

Ethan smiled and led her to his car, which was not far from them.

"Where are you taking me?" asked Ella when they were on the road.

"You will know it later, and i think it's better for you to just go to sleep. This trip will be quite long but I swear it will be worth it, is it okay?"

"Okay, that's not a problem, I don't want to go home yet anyway."

After that, Ella chose to fall asleep as Ethan told her to. She was exhausted today from all the facts she accepted. Maybe that was the right time for her to rest a little.

Indeed, their journey was quite far, almost two hours.

Ethan turned to look at Ella, who fell asleep. She was very innocent and peaceful when she was sleeping. It made Ethan smile faintly. In the next second, he shook his head and returned to focus on the road. "What are you thinking, you idiot," Ethan said, cursing himself.

Ethan stopped the car and turned back to Ella. They were at the place where Ethan meant.

Ethan couldn't bear to wake Ella. She looked very peaceful.

Ethan sighed and tapped Ella's shoulder softly, "Hey, wake up," Ethan said softly.

Ella still didn't wake up. Ethan scratched his nape that didn't itch; he was confused about how to wake Ella.

Ethan leaned back in close and shook Ella's body slowly. "Umm, wake up, we are arrive."

Ella slightly moved her body, and then she slowly opened her eyes. Ella muttered, "Where are we?"

Ethan smiled faintly, "Come on, let me show you."

Ella followed Ethan as he got out of the car. She spreads her gaze towards the surroundings. She was speechless. Her drowsiness just disappeared, and her heart suddenly warmed.

They seemed to be in a vast expanse of land, there were many lovely flowers, and there were small hills. As far as the eye could see was a very soothing expanse of green land.

"You kidding me! this is very beautiful," said Ella covering her mouth with her hand.

"I know, let me show you the most beautiful part."

Ella followed Ethan as they walked towards one of the taller hills.

They stopped there, and Ella looked at the view in front of her. "Wow, I'm literally speechless," repeated Ella.

Ethan chuckled, "Look behind you."

Ella turned around, and suddenly her eyes were perfectly rounded, and her jaw dropped.

"OH MY GOD! IS THIS REAL?"

"No fucking way, this place is literally heaven," said Ella staring at the view in front of her.

from a heigh they could obviously see the sunflowers dominating the ground, and there were other flowers like dahlias, lilies, begonias and many other types of flowers that make the expanse of green grass look colorful. And right above it is the sun and the twilight sky, which makes everything even more perfect.

"How do you know this place?" asked Ella.

"I found it one day when I had a bad day. And yeah, i always feel healed when I see all this view. It became my favorite place."

"I never brought anyone with me here though. You are the first one," Ethan said honestly.

"Really? Wow."

Ethan lay down on the grass, and Ella followed; she lay down beside him.

They lay there for hours watching the evening sky slowly change tonight. Together they tried to heal themselves.

"This place, oh God. If i could i would never want to go home. Just imagine it would be so wonderful if we just stay lay in here over the night, watching the stars up there," said Ella.

"I know right, this place is feels so...magical."

"I didn't know that you were close to Nora," said Ethan turning to Ella, who was looking at the stars up there.

Instantly Ella was nervous. She didn't know what to answer.

"Nora and I just got close recently and we weren't that close," said Ella, not daring to look at Ethan.

She could not tell the truth that she knew everything. About the video, Jackson, and also the reason Nora ended her life.

She was afraid that Ethan would hate her, so she chose to keep quiet.

"If I had known who spread the Video, I swear i would never forgive that person," Ethan said, sighing.

Ella looked back up, thinking that it was only a matter of time when Ethan would find out everything, and he would hate her so much.

Ethan suddenly laughed. Ella furrowed her brows and turned to look at Ethan.

"What are you laughing at?"

"You know what, I don't even know your name yet but I've taken you this far."

Ella, who had just realized that she hadn't told Ethan her name, laughed too.

"YOU DON'T KNOW MY NAME? OH GOD I FORGOT TO TELL YOU," said Ella with a laugh.

"You are the one who do not tell me your name, so don't make this like my fault okay," Ethan said with a chuckle.

"Okay let's start over." Ella spun around so that she lay face to face with Ethan, her hand as a base for her head. She smiled broadly at Ethan, who was also lying opposite her.

"Hi there, I'm Ella Theodore. And what's your name, young man?"

Ethan nodded his head and smiled sweetly, "Nice to meet you Ella Theodore. I'm Ethan Falmeenton."

They then burst out laughing. The day might be tough for both of them, but they were healing each other without them knowing.

That was the beginning of the story of Ethala; Ethan and Ella. They met accidentally when they need someone.

Don't be easy to guess, because the story is still a long way off and you are just getting to the starting line. Enjoy the twists and turns of this story and only time will answer all the questions in your mind.