Chapter 33: I Want to Spend the Whole Day With You
"Here’s the first time we met." she spoke, her finger tracing the words.
"Your smile caught my eye, Ryder, and my heart fluttered. I was too timid to speak, but you made me feel noticed."
She turned the page, her eyes misting. "And here’s our summer evening at the park... Your hands guiding me on the swing, the wind tangling my hair, and Grandma’s warm smile watching over us." Tears trembled on her lashes.
"Ryder..." she whispered, her voice trembling with hurt. "How did we drift so far apart? When did you stop truly seeing me?" She flipped through the journal’s pages, each memory tugging at her heart. ’Was I too vulnerable? Too caught up in my own hopes to notice us slipping away?’ she wondered, her thoughts echoing in the quiet room.
Her gaze drifted, lost in thought. "Or did you ever truly see me at all?" The question hung, a haunting uncertainty.
She turned to a page filled with her grandma’s words, written in her own handwriting. "Grandma always said that true love never fades, but it’s hard to hold onto hope when it feels like everything is slipping away."
She knew her grandma was right, but it was hard to keep believing when the pain of losing Ryder felt so real.
With a sigh, Thea closed her diary, her eyes closing as she let the memories wash over her. She knew she would keep writing, keep holding onto the memories, no matter how painful they were. For in those words, she found solace, and a glimmer of hope that one day, she and Ryder would find their way back to each other.
Thea went to bed, but she couldn’t sleep. She was browsing through news articles on her phone, her eyes scanning the screens without really taking anything in. After a while, her eyelids grew heavy, and she felt herself drifting off to sleep without even realizing it.
The next morning, Thea woke up to the sound of her alarm blaring in her ear. She groggily opened her eyes to see the clock on her bedside table reading 6:00 AM. She rubbed her eyes, yawned, and got out of bed to draw the curtains. As she did, the warm sunlight streamed into her room.
It was the weekend, and Thea had no plans other than to spend some quality time with her grandma. She smiled to herself, thinking about the morning ahead, and went to get ready for the day.
Thea,feeling refreshed after her morning routine, headed downstairs to prepare breakfast. As she entered the living room, she saw her grandma sitting comfortably on the couch, reading the newspaper with her glasses perched on the end of her nose.
"Good morning, grandma.."
Grandma Grace looked up briefly, her eyes twinkling behind her glasses, and replied, "Good morning, dear." Thea could tell her grandma was engrossed in the news, so she didn’t disturb her further.
She headed to the kitchen and decided to make a hearty breakfast, consisting of scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, toast with fresh strawberry jam, and a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice.
Once everything was ready, Thea called out, "Grandma, breakfast is prepared.." Grandma Grace folded the newspaper and made her way to the dining table.
"Have you thought about what gift you’ll give to Ryder’s grandparents?"
"Yes! I was thinking of a beautiful vase. Ryder’s grandma loves flowers, so I thought it would be a lovely gesture."
Grandma Grace smiled. "That’s a great idea, Thea! You’re so thoughtful, just like your mother."
"What plans do you have today?"
"Nothing, Grandma. I want to spend the whole day with you."
"Then let’s go to the museum. We haven’t gone anywhere in a long time. It’ll be a lovely outing for both of us."
"Grandma, that’s a great idea! And on our way back, we can buy the gift for Ryder’s grandparents."
Grandma Grace nodded her head in agreement.
She headed to the kitchen to prepare their tiffin. She carefully packed the sandwiches, fruit salad, cookies, and lemonade into a beautiful insulated lunch bag with colorful stripes.
Thea slipped into her room, excitement buzzing for the day ahead. She selected a yellow solid cotton blend A-line dress.
Adding a touch of elegance, she stepped into little block heel sandals. Next, she swept her hair into a high ponytail, showcasing her bright, hopeful eyes.
Thea shook off yesterday’s lingering emotions, her heart fixed on the future. She was convinced that there would be chance in the future to express her true feelings to Ryder, and she was determined to seize it.
Thea descended the stairs, eager to see her grandma. As the elderly woman emerged from her room, Thea’s eyes sparkled with admiration. Grandma wore a elegant pale-pink dress with a subtle sheen, its classic design and fitted waist showcasing her timeless elegance.Her silver hair was styled in a neat bob.
"Grandma, you are looking beautiful.." Thea said, her voice filled with sincerity.
Grandma’s warm smile radiated happiness, her eyes shining with love.
Both of them headed out to the "City Heritage Museum", a renowned museum in the city. As they approached the entrance, Thea went to grab two tickets for them. "Two tickets, please." she said to the ticket counter staff.
"Grandma, being here brings back so many memories... I feel like I’m reliving my childhood all over again..." Thea said, a hint of nostalgia in her voice.
Grandma Grace smiled, "Me too... It’s been ages since we last visited this place."
After visiting the museum, Thea and Grandma Grace went to the park nearby. Sitting on a bench, they unpacked their tiffin and began to eat, savoring the delicious flavors.
Her eyes sparkled with happiness as she gazed at her only granddaughter, feeling grateful for this special moment together. Thea was sitting beside her, munching on some cookies.
Thea knew that aside from her morning walk, her grandma rarely went out anymore, as her doctor had advised her to take extra care. Grandma Grace’s mobility had become limited due to osteoporosis, and she also struggled with mild asthma, which made physical activity difficult.
