Chapter 1. THE LOST GIRL
The smell of burnt toast always reminded Ella of her parents' love story. The kitchen was loud with the sound of life she always took for granted. Ella sat at the kitchen table, buried in her pre-calculus homework. At seventeen, her life was predictable. Her parents were the 'it' couple of their small town — high school enemies turned into soulmates. Currently, her father Mark was using a spatula as a microphone, singing a song that had been out of style for 20 years. Her mother, Texa, was rolling her eyes — but she was smiling. A smile that only comes from decades of being loved by the same person.
"Mark, the toast is burning!" Texa said, swatting him away from the stove.
"Come on, Tex! It's not burnt, it's caramelised!" Mark countered, winking at Ella. "Right, El? Tell your mother I am a culinary genius!"
Ella laughed, pushing her pre-calculus homework aside. "You are a genius at making the fire alarm go off, Dad."
The doorbell rang — a sharp ding-dong that cut through the warmth of the kitchen.
"That'll be the bachelor," Mark said.
Leonard carver walked in like he owned the air he breathed. He was 38, wearing a dark coat that smelled like the rainy streets of London. He was handsome in a way that felt heavy. He was Ella's favourite person — a mentor who treated her like a daughter and a best friend who never judged her.
"Mr. Leonard !!" Ella grinned, jumping to hug him.
"Did you bring me anything from the Paris trip?"
"Just these," Leo smiled, pulling a box of artisan chocolates from his coat. "And a headache from the flight. How are your studies going, El?"
"Just amazing, Mr. Carver! Do you know I scored first in class!"
"That's great!" Leo said, taking off his coat and settling onto the couch.
"So how was your trip, bachelor? Got a girlfriend or not?" Mark asked, mischief written all over his face.
"Would you like something, Leo?" Texa called, coming in from the kitchen.
"Nothing, Tex. How are you?"
"Amazing as always — except this man keeps finding new ways to annoy me. He's burnt the whole kitchen now! Why don't you teach him how to be a gentleman?"
Leo laughed lightly.
"How long are you going to keep waiting, Leo?" Mark asked, suddenly turning serious — a sharp contrast to his usual self. "It's been more than 20 years. I don't even remember seeing her at school, and I know you don't remember her face anymore either."
"I don't know, Mark," Leo said, smiling bitterly. "She was... everything. I can't describe her face anymore — the memory feels like it's behind a foggy window — but I still remember how she made me feel."
Texa sensed the tension thickening and gently steered the conversation. "Let it go, Mark. Leo, do you remember how you two used to be the biggest clowns in school?"
"That's talent, Tex!"
"Oh, come on, Mark. El, do you know your dad threw a lizard at mr brian, our teacher? The man was so terrified he nearly resigned. Poor thing."
"OH MY GOD!" Mark covered Ella's ears dramatically. "What are you teaching my daughter, woman?! And that old baldy deserved it."
"You still haven't changed, Mark," Leo laughed fully. And just like that the tension was gone.
Later, as Leo was leaving, Ella followed him to the door.
"Mr. Leo — what was she really like? The girl you loved?"
Leo paused. For a second, his breath hitched. "I don't remember her name or where she came from. But—" he reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind Ella's ear. "She had a smile like yours. Don't stay up late, kiddo."
Ella watched his car pull away, her heart aching for a man paralyzed by a ghost. And somewhere deep inside, she wished she could fix it somehow.
