CHAPTER 12[DREAMS AND REALITIES]

I stepped out of my aunt's place, feeling anxious and uncertain about the conversation we had just had. I couldn't shake off the feeling that my aunt was hiding something from me. As I walked towards the street, I noticed a familiar figure leaning against a car.

Elias.

My heart skipped a beat as our eyes met. I felt a rush of surprise and relief. "What are you doing here?" I asked, trying to sound casual despite the butterflies in my stomach.

Elias pushed off from the car and walked towards me. "I didn't want to leave you alone with your aunt," he said, his eyes scanning my face. "How did it go?"

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "It was...interesting," I said, trying to summarize the conversation. "I'm just not sure what to make of it."

Elias's expression turned sympathetic. "Hey, you're not alone in this," he said, taking my hand in his. "We'll figure it out together."