Five years after her divorce, Otelia finally decided to heed her friends’ encouragement and celebrate her birthday at the spring festival. Known for her empathetic nature, she often poured her energy into caring for others, yet when it came to her own well-being, she would make a contract with the devil to trap herself in another level of anxiety, and then she would find herself trapped in a cycle of anxiety that would dim her happiness.
Fast forward to the scene of her friends bursting into her home, accompanied by a nanny to look after her son while she enjoyed the night out. They swiftly helped her get ready for the festival, and thankfully, she didn’t require much preparation—her natural beauty radiated vibrantly, needing no artifice. Just an hour later, they arrived at the festival, ready to embrace the evening’s festivities.
As the vibrant festival pulsed with life, Otelia found herself swept into the rhythm, her friends eager arms pulling her toward the stage where Mark Antony’s music wove a tapestry of sizzling Latino beats interspersed with modern melodies. The air shimmered with the intoxicating scent of joy, and each note seemed to coax the crowd into a euphoric sway. Bodies flowed and intertwined like rivers converging.”, lovers wrapped in an embrace that grounded them to the earth while their spirits soared with the music.
In that electric atmosphere, Otelia felt a profound awakening—the realization of her soul’s purpose: to embrace self-love. It was a concept that felt alien, especially for a woman in her late thirties who had spent years battling the shadows of her past.
Her friends, buoyed by laughter and drinks, dropped to their knees in exuberant revelry, yet Otelia sipped only modestly, mindful that she would be the one to guide them home safely when the night drew to a close. The first step away from the car felt manageable, but as she turned away, a rush of adrenaline quickened her pulse, doubling and then tripling with an inexplicable urgency.
Suddenly, a surge of energy swept through the crowd, parting her friends from view. The chaos of the festival roared around her, but a flash of lightning illuminated a presence not far away. A gaze locked with hers and time stalled; a figure emerged from the crowd, a magnetism pulling her in. He stood still, a captivating silhouette against the frenetic backdrop, and in that moment, the noise faded—only the music remained, a symphony that beckoned her to dance.
Lost in the moment, Otelia felt their bodies meld, her heart racing each time their eyes met. She could sense the tension, a silent understanding only lovers could share; “This is not me”, she thought. Yet, as their hands touched, she felt as if she had always been here—always waiting for this moment.”
he extended his hand, guiding her into a dance that felt both electric and grounding. It was as if their movements were igniting a spark, a sacred fire that united them—a gravitational pull that felt fated.
But abruptly, the music halted, snapping them back to reality. They stood there, frozen in a tableau of longing and wonder, tangible warmth enveloping them as their friends looked on, astonished. This was not the typical Otelia, who had deliberately built walls around her heart after the tumult of her past marriage.
Yet here she was, standing on the precipice of connection with this mysterious man, a collision of light and dark, like the moon encountering the sun. The moment stretched, an eternity held in a gaze that eclipsed the noise around them. Her friends waited with bated breath, eager for the enchantment to break, wanting to witness the spellbinding interplay of souls that seemed to communicate without words.
In that fleeting moment, Otelia found herself not just swaying with him, but entwined with the very essence of joy itself. It was as if she were reclaiming a fragment of her soul that she feared had been lost forever, and perhaps even discovering that love—in its myriad forms—might not be so alien after all.
Yet, a cacophony of doubts echoed in her mind, outshouting the music that enveloped them. “Where have you been?” questioned a voice, heavy with suspicion. “You showed up when I stopped believing in love. Why now? Hold onto me, but I lost the war against my emotions long ago. You want me to remember what it feels like to love? I’m lost, but somehow my heart recognizes you. Who are you?”
His response was gentle, melting her internal monologue into a whirlwind of astonished silence. “I am Jhono.” But Otelia remained mute, caught in a spell of disbelief, her friends sensing the tension rushing in to lighten the atmosphere. They introduced themselves, “Hi, I’m Stephany and this is Liea. Nice to meet you!” Then, with a concerned glance at Otelia, Stephany inquired, “Are you okay, love?”
Jhono’s gaze remained fixed on Otelia, seemingly oblivious to the chaos around them, as if she were the only reality in his world. In an instant, however, Otelia broke the trance, disappearing into the swirling sea of dancers, leaving behind a moment that felt both inexplicable and magical. A collective gasp escaped her friends as Liea exclaimed, “Not again! She wasted it!”
Determined to catch up, they raced after her, fully aware that she was bound to retreat to her car. Otelia moved like lightning, too swift for them to follow. Leia grasped her shoulder, desperate to halt her flight. “Otelia, please wait! Just talk to me! What’s going on?”
But the weight of their intoxication slowed them, blurring their focus as they pondered why Otelia had walked away from a striking man with eyes that seemed to hold entire galaxies. They decided to return to the party, knowing Otelia’s loyalty would always pull her back to them; she would never truly abandon her friends.
As she ran, her heart pounded in rhythm with an urgency that defied logic. The universe seemed to whisper promises of renewal and vitality, urging her to embrace the moment. Yet, her stubborn ego clung tight, a guardian of the fortress she’d built around her heart, unwilling to lower its defences and let love in once more.
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