Page 91 of Hypothetical Heart
“Winnie, how’s your foot feeling?” Jameson asks me.
“Free,” I sigh, holding up my Converse-clad foot.
It’s only been a few days since I got the okay to take my boot off, but I still have to stay in supportive shoes for the next bit.
The game continues, and for the next hour or so, we’re just us again—just six friends sitting around a table, playing a stupid card game in a diner that feels more like home than anywhere else. There’s something comforting in that, in the way we can still laugh and tease each other, even with everything looming over us.
As the night drags on, the diner starts to empty out. Eloise’s mom, who’s probably seen us here more times thanshe can count, gives us a knowing smile as she refills our drinks one last time.
It’s late, and we should probably be heading home soon, but none of us want to leave.
Eventually, the game winds down. Genevieve is crowned the ultimate Uno champion after a particularly brutal round, and Luke declares himself the sorest loser. We’re all laughing, but there’s a bittersweet undercurrent to it now.
I find myself staring out the window, watching the lights of the town flicker in the distance. This place—our home. The thought of leaving it behind, of leaving them behind, feels almost impossible.
Logan taps my hand lightly, pulling me back to the present. I turn to him, and for a moment, it’s just the two of us, the rest of the world fading into the background.
“It’s not the end, you know,” he says quietly, his voice low enough that only I can hear.
I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. “I know.” But even as I say it, I wonder if I really believe it.
In all reality, none of us are going worlds away, but it’s still much further than we’ve ever experienced before.
As the neon lights of Taylor’s Diner flicker behind us, we pile into Logan’s car in a silence that feels heavier than before. The drive back to his place is filled only by the low hum of the engine and the occasional sigh.
When we pull into Logan’s driveway, the house looms like it always has, familiar yet different in the moonlight. It’s been the backdrop to so many of our nights together—sleepovers, pool parties, lazy summer afternoons.
We shuffle inside, dropping our bags and shoes in the hallway like we’ve done a thousand times before. But there’s no rush to settle in this time. Instead, we linger, the air thick with unspoken goodbyes.
Logan heads to the kitchen, pulling out snacks and drinks as if keeping busy will stop the clock from ticking forward.
Genevieve leans against the counter, her arm brushing Jameson’s, while Luke collapses onto the couch with a groan.
“I think I ate too much pie,” he mutters, rubbing his stomach. It’s a weak attempt at lightening the mood, but we all appreciate it, forcing small smiles.
Eloise, though, is quieter than usual. She stands near the window, staring out at the backyard where so many of our memories were made. The hammock still sways gently in the breeze, a reminder of the summers we spent together, carefree and unaware of how quickly time was slipping by.
“I can’t believe you’re leaving tomorrow,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper.
Eloise glances back at me, her expression unreadable. “Neither can I.”
Logan walks over to the couch, sitting beside Luke and patting the empty spot next to him. “Come on, let’s make this night count. We’ve still got a few hours.”
Eventually, the conversation shifts to memories—funny stories from high school, inside jokes, and the dumb things we did when we were younger. It helps, for a little while, to focus on the past instead of the future.
But then the clock ticks closer to midnight, and the laughter fades. Eloise stands up, stretching as if preparing herself for what’s next. “I should head home,” she says, her voice soft but firm. “I’ve got an early start tomorrow.”
The words hang in the air, final and heavy.
No one argues. We all knew this moment was coming.
One by one, we stand, following her to the door. Eloisepauses, turning to face us with a small, sad smile. “This isn’t goodbye, okay? We’ll see each other soon.”
Logan steps forward, pulling her into a tight hug. “Take care of yourself, okay?”
Eloise nods, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “You too.”
The rest of us follow, each goodbye feeling like a small piece of our hearts being chipped away. By the time Eloise walks out the door, the silence that follows is deafening.
