chapter 8:Through times and trials

A year had passed since high school ended, and life had taken different turns for all of them. Ella and Drevin had finally started dating—not with a dramatic confession, but in the quiet moments between them, where feelings spoke louder than words. They had grown inseparable, finding comfort in each other as they navigated the new challenges of adulthood.

Drevin was already in college, studying in their town with sponsorship from his uncle. Ava had moved to California for school, living the dream her parents had set for her. Ryan was already in his second year of university, still the same charismatic flirt, bouncing between casual dates but never settling down. Mia, Ella's younger sister, was growing fast, now in junior high, preparing for senior high. But Ella… she was still waiting.

Her parents had promised her college, but money was tight. They were saving, but it wasn't enough yet. So, Ella decided to take matters into her own hands. She started working part-time as a waitress at a small restaurant. The pay was low—barely enough to make a real difference—but it was something. When she wasn't at the restaurant, she was helping her mother in the bakery or assisting her father in his workshop. She barely had time for herself, but she endured.

Loss and Love

Everything changed when Drevin's mother passed away. The news shattered Drevin.

 News came in the middle of the night. Drevin's mother had been battling her illness for months, and though the doctors tried their best, her body could no longer keep up. When Drevin got the call, he sat in stunned silence for a full minute before his breath hitched, and the weight of reality crushed him.

Ella was the first person he called.

His voice was barely a whisper when she picked up. "She's gone."

Ella shot up from her bed, the sleep in her eyes instantly vanishing. "Drevin… oh my God."

He didn't say anything for a while, only the sound of his unsteady breathing filled the silence. Then, in a voice that barely held itself together, he muttered, "I don't know what to do."

Ella felt a lump form in her throat. "I'm coming over."

"No… you don't have to—"

"I'm coming," she said firmly, already pulling on her jacket.

She got to his place in record time. The house was eerily quiet, the atmosphere heavy with grief. Drevin sat on the couch, elbows on his knees, head in his hands. When Ella stepped inside, he looked up at her, and that's when she saw it—his eyes were red, swollen, filled with a pain so deep it was hard to look at.

She didn't say anything. She just sat beside him, wrapping her arms around his shaking form. He clung to her like she was the only thing keeping him from breaking apart completely.

"She was all I had," he whispered into her shoulder. "My brothers… they're just kids. How am I supposed to do this without her?"

Ella rubbed his back gently, tears stinging her own eyes. "You're not alone, Drevin. You have your brothers. You have your uncle. And you have me."

They sat there for hours, not speaking, just holding each other. At some point, Drevin finally fell asleep, exhaustion pulling him under. Ella stayed beside him the entire night.

The Funeral

The day of the funeral was bleak. Drevin's friends, Ava and Ryan, were devastated that they couldn't be there, but their messages kept coming.

> Ava: "I'm so sorry, Drev. I hate that I can't be there. If you need anything, I'm here."

Ryan: "I'd do anything to be there, man. This isn't fair. I'm thinking of you."

Drevin barely responded to their texts, and Ella understood why. The loss was too much to process, too raw.

She was the only one by his side when they lowered his mother into the ground. His uncle, trying to keep it together, stood near Drevin's brothers, who were too young to fully grasp the weight of the moment.

As the priest spoke, Drevin stared at the casket, his jaw clenched so tightly it looked painful.

Ella slipped her fingers into his. "You don't have to hold it in."

His breath was unsteady. "I can't fall apart here."

"Yes, you can," she whispered. "You loved her. It's okay to grieve."

Drevin's throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. Then, finally, the dam broke. Silent tears rolled down his face as he tightened his grip on Ella's hand, holding on like she was his only anchor.

After the burial, people offered their condolences, but Drevin barely responded. He was numb. Ella stayed close, gently guiding him away when he seemed overwhelmed.

When everyone had left, he stood in front of his mother's grave, staring at the freshly turned earth. "She worked so hard for us. And now she's gone." His voice cracked.

Ella slid her arms around his waist from behind, resting her head against his back. "She was proud of you, Drevin. So proud."

He let out a shaky breath, leaning into her touch. "I don't know how to move on from this."

Ella turned him to face her. "You don't have to move on. You just have to keep going. And I'll be here. Every step of the way."

Drevin looked at her for a long moment before cupping her face gently. His thumb brushed against her cheek, as if silently thanking her for being there.

"I love you, you know?" His voice was soft, almost hesitant, like he was afraid to say it out loud.

Ella felt her chest tighten. She had always known, but hearing it now, in this moment of vulnerability, made it feel even more real.

"I love you too," she whispered.

Ella had never seen him that vulnerable before. He was always strong, composed, and in control, but now, he was breaking.

And in the silence of the cemetery, amidst grief and loss, their love found its way through the cracks of heartbreak.

To be continued...