"I promise I'll be back darling."

"Are you sure Eli? This letter is really suspicious-"

"I'll be fine! I'll have Brooke with me as well, wait for me alright?"

"I'll always wait for you Eli, I'm just scared..."

"Don't be, I promise you, we'll be fine."

That was 4 years ago.

For 4 years, I sat here in our home waiting everyday for my fiancé to come back home. Everyday, for maybe a sign he'll come back, anything.

The doorbell rang, 8:13, the mail. Standing from from my chair, I move my way down the stairs onto the first floor. Grabbing my scarf on the way as I'm going to head out to work anyways. Grabbing the door open, a single tanned paper colored letter with a red stamp stood perfectly on the doorstep. The same one that Eli received all those years ago. Quickly grabbing it and running inside, I use the letter knife to remove the seal, a single page was inside. With a quivering hand, I grab the letter, sliding it open to read the contents.

Dear _______,

It is joyous of me to declare that Eli Clark the Seer of Otelus Manor have survived the 5 years of games. I have rewarded him with $6000, enough to set both you and him a lifetime. He will be arriving back home by next week hopefully.

Sign,

Otetus manor.

"Eli's coming back..?" I whisper to myself in joy, I held the letter rereading it over and over again to make sure I'm reading it right. I dump the letter on my nightstand and quickly start to change into my work clothes, pinning my hair up messily. Upon getting everything ready, I race outside and dash to work ready for the day to be over.

Thoughts raced through my head as I think about what to do. He's finally coming back, after so long. We can finally have our wedding, perhaps plan for a family as well. We finally can live a normal life, just the two of us.

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I stood in the kitchen finishing the last bit of food for dinner, I made Eli's favorite too, he always had a soft spot for Asian food after all. I dropped the last plate on the small dinner table we had for 2, making sure that Brookes owl perch was there as well, adjusting it to be at eye level with the seats. As I smile at my hard work, the door bell rang just in time. A smile popped on my face and I immediately rush my way to the door, opening it quickly as I can to see my fiancé standing at the doorway and his owl perched on his shoulder.

"Eli!" I jump up to him giving him a tight hug as I can, tears welling up in my eyes as I finally get to hold the love of my life after so long. The soft head pats I felt from Eli rested on my head as I held him closer, yet why does he feel so distant?

"Hello my beloved." He said quietly taking his blindfold off. I lift my head to see those clear blue eyes staring back at me, why did it have that hint of guilt in them?

"Eli...is everything alright?" I ask, my hand gently holding his cheeks. His skin was cold.

"I hope...you don't mind if a friend stays with us for a bit? She has no where to go home to..." my eyes widen in shock, a stranger I never met? I take a glance behind Eli to see a girl with red hair, decked in a priestess like outfit slyly twiddling her fingers in anticipation.

Every fiber in my body was screaming no, but I knew it would break Eli's heart if I declined.

"Of course! I'll just have to, set up the guest room. Go inside and eat beloved, you deserve this break." I tilt his face in a attempt to kiss him, only to have him brush me off.

"Thank you beloved." He smiled.

Brooke was quick to get off his shoulder to attach herself onto me.

And for the majority of the time she would stay by my side.

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Weeks went by, and Fiona still stayed with us. My anxiety is starting to eat away at me. Why wouldn't it? Eli has been gone for half a decade and he came back with a girl who was interested in the topics he's into. Not once did you ever see them apart, it started to feel like I was casted aside. The spark between me and Eli died,

Brooke even realized how down I've been, she tried so hard to cheer me up whenever she could when I'm home. She was the only thing keeping me from completely breaking down.

Today was another day, I woke up and went to work, only to come back to Eli and Fiona in the study room ogling over religion and the stars once again. I didn't even come back to any greetings other than Brooke who was sitting on the front hall porch set up for her. She stayed by my side until I reached the bedroom.

"I think I should break it off Brooke..." I said quietly sitting in the vanity as I took the ribbon out of my hair bun. The owl was quick to nudge against me with a pleading face telling me not to leave. I gently stroked her feathers on her head as I stare back at her.

"There's no point sweetie, I love him, but he clearly loves someone else now." Tears welled up in eyes as I slowly admit everything. The owl did everything she could to give comfort, but there was only so much she can do.

I picked up my pen and slowly began to write my letter, they wouldn't even realize I was gone by the time I leave. The pen gliding across the pages as I continue to write a apology to Eli. I felt Brooke constantly trying to get me to stop as to stay but I couldn't handle it anymore.

"This is goodbye Eli..." I say quietly, leaving the neatly folded envelope on my side of the bed. The suitcase was already packed and I had plans to stay at a homeless shelter until I can afford a small apartment for myself. I slip the engagement ring I had on my finger off, placing it gently on top of the piece of paper. All of the hard work I did for the past years was all for nothing. I tried to leave the room but Brooke wouldn't allow it, I feel so bad for this owl, she can't leave Eli nor me.

"Sweetie, please, this is for the better..." I pat her head gently letting her back in her cage, she sat there quietly as I give her a goodbye kiss.

"I'll see you whenever alright?" I gave her a bittersweet smile as I left the room. Sliding down the stairs realizing they won't even realize I left. I sigh as I opened the door, the sky was shining brightly, unlike the mood I was in.

I wonder the streets as I reach the homeless shealter, the place felt more like a orphanage more than anything else. I stepped foot inside and was met with registration, I quickly sign in and went to drop everything off in my room. The place was vast and quite empty from a few people I ran into.

I wasn't looking my way as I walked down to dorm room hallway, bumping into a hard chest as I was caught before falling.

"I'm so sorry! I should've seen where I was going!" I look upwards to see a man standing probably around 6 feet tall, his charcoal hair and burn marks stood out from other features.

"I'm sorry I should've looked up when I was walking..." I apologize back, dusting myself off.

"Sorry bout that, how about I treat you to some food? Or a drink? Names Norton Campbell." He said quickly.

"Nice to meet you Mr. Campbell." I smile back in response.

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"________?!" A shout bursted through the doors, all eyes were locked on the seer who frantically walked around the building looking for his fiancé.

"Eli?" A deep voice called out to the seer who immediately recognized it.

"Norton! Have you seen my fiancé? She's about this tall, dressed like a librarian? She left me this note and little to no context I need to know she's safe!" Eli was frantic as he shoved the letter into his friends chest. Norton was skeptic and quickly glossed over the letter.

Dear my beloved Eli Clark,

Upon finding this letter and the ring, I'm sorry to say, I decided it's best for us to part ways. The spark we had, you had, all of those years ago no longer exist. I'm tired being a maid in this house, I know you love Fiona more than me now, both Brooke and I know. I hope you find new lights in the new relationship you will have now that I'm no longer there.

Sighed, your beloved

________

"Wait, you mean you had a fiancé this whole time?" Norton glanced upwards to the seer. Everyone in the manor knew Eli Clark as a single man, no strings attached.

"I didn't think I would make it out, I gave up on thinking I would come back to her alive considering more than half of us didn't get out..." Norton shoved the letter back into Eli's chest as he held a stern face.

"It's over Eli, you broke her heart, you can't take it back anymore. She's gone from your life and she did the right choice if you were going to replace her so quickly."

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