No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

The technicolor world vanished beneath his touch, and my world plunged into darkness. Yet, fear was the furthest thing from my mind.

He was there, beside me, his warmth more comforting than any light could ever be.

"Make a wish. From now on, with me by your side, all your wishes can come true," Ernest's voice, deep as a cello, danced softly around my ears.

The music inside the Ferris wheel pod was soothing, easing the tension from my heart bit by bit.

Make a wish?

What did I even wish for? Ever since my parents' accident, I couldn't really say I had any wishes left.

Being with Conrad was probably the closest thing to a wish, hoping for a forever that was more a silent yearning than an actual wish.

Now, I had to make a wish...

I searched my heart for what I truly desired, but came up empty.

Then, I thought of my parents, their untimely death, and I found my voice, "I wish... I wish to uncover the truth behind my parents' accident."

"I can help you with that," Ernest replied without hesitation.

I laughed, then took his hand, "Then why bother wishing? I could just ask you directly."

"You just missed a great opportunity," Ernest teased, tapping my head lightly.

I smirked, "I stopped believing in that stuff a long time ago."

As I gazed out at the dazzling lights, "After my parents passed, I stopped believing in any kind of divine protection."

Ernest's warmth enveloped my head, not in a pat this time, but a gentle rub, "From now on, just believe in me."

He wanted to be my knight in shining armor. But he didn't understand that I prefer to be my own hero.

The lights brightened once more, illuminating the night sky. The lights here were ever-changing, ensuring you'd never see the same light twice.

The investment in the amusement park's lighting was a third of its total budget, a testament to its importance.

"This Heart of the Ocean design is one of my favorite lighting designs," I couldn't help but share my joy.

"There's even better to come," Ernest said with confidence.

The lights dazzled, one after the other, and I was completely immersed, forgetting even Conrad, who was in the pod across from us.

It was only when a particularly beautiful display drew my attention, and I turned to share it with Ernest, that I saw Conrad watching me.

His gaze was eerily calm, almost lifeless, as if nothing at all could disturb him.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

In that moment, my heart froze.

Even though had moved on from Conrad, he had been a part of my life for a decade, making it impossible to see him as a stranger, especially now, with such a calm demeanor, I felt as if I had personally wounded him.

UMS

Ernest sensed my distress, holding me tighter, his voice soothing, "There's a special light display just for you."

"Hmm?" I returned to the moment.

Ernest took out his phone, tapped a few times, and all the lights went out.

The sudden darkness was different from when he had playfully covered my eyes before, plunging me into an abyss of panic...

I instinctively clung to Ernest, but before I could speak, the world lit up again.

The lights that had gone out were now a shimmering ocean blue, transforming the amusement park

into a vast sea, the lights sh

like

the ebb and flow of waves

This dynamic and three-dimensional effect was something completely new, not seen in any blueprint.

"Is this a new addition? After..." I didn't get to finish, as the sea of blue lights began to change again.

Amidst the oceanic lights, a four-dimensional figure of light

began to form, growing dense

and

brighter until a little girl in a princess dress with a bun hairstyle emerged...