Elizabeth hesitated, watching the young man standing in front of the marriage court. He looked like someone from a wealthy family—his suit was well-tailored, his shoes polished, and his entire presence carried a quiet confidence. Yet, there was a sadness in his eyes, a weight he seemed to carry.
She took a slow step forward. Her heart pounded, unsure why she felt drawn to him.
The man glanced at her, then back at his wristwatch. He sighed heavily.
"Are you waiting for someone?" Elizabeth asked, her voice gentle.
"Yes. My fiancée was meant to be here this morning, but she never showed up. No calls, no texts, nothing and my family has left.
" His jaw clenched as he looked down at the ring still on his finger.
"I guess that says everything."
Elizabeth felt a pang of sympathy. "I'm sorry… that must be painful."
Elizabeth offered a small smile. "What's your name?"
The man looked at her, his expression softening slightly. "My name is Samuel."
She nodded. "I'm Elizabeth."
Samuel gave a slight smile in return. "Nice to meet you, Elizabeth."
For a moment, they stood in silence, the sounds of the city buzzing around them. The air was cool, and the streetlights cast a warm glow over the pavement.
Elizabeth glanced at the entrance of the marriage court, then back at Samuel.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"No" Samuel replied, he then looked at her and managed a small smile. "What about you? Where are you headed?"
Elizabeth shrugged. "Just out for a few drinks."
"Would you like to join me?"
Samuel blinked in surprise. "You don't even know me."
"Well, you don't know me either," she replied with a playful smile.
"But you look like you could use a distraction."
He studied her for a moment, then nodded. "You know what? Why not?"
They walked side by side down the street, and for the first time that day, Samuel felt a weight lift off his chest. Elizabeth, too, felt a strange sense of fate pulling her in his direction. Perhaps, just perhaps, this was the beginning of something she never expected.
They found a small lounge nearby. The place was quiet, with soft music playing. The lights were warm and dim, making it feel calm and comfortable.
Samuel pulled out a chair for Elizabeth before sitting down. A waiter came over, and Elizabeth ordered a cocktail, while Samuel asked for a glass of whiskey.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then, Elizabeth stirred her drink and looked at Samuel.
"So, do you know why she didn't come?" she asked gently.
Samuel sighed and shook his head. "I wish I did. Everything seemed fine. We planned the wedding together, talked about our future… and now, she's just gone. No message, no explanation."
Elizabeth nodded. "That must hurt. It's never easy when someone leaves without a reason."
Samuel looked at her closely. "You sound like you've been through something similar."
Elizabeth hesitated before nodding. "In a way. Let's just say life doesn't always go the way we expect."
They talked more, slowly moving away from sad topics. Samuel told her about growing up in a wealthy family, always being told what to do. Elizabeth shared stories about her own struggles, her family, and why she had come back home.
As time passed, Samuel leaned back in his chair and smiled a little. "I didn't think I'd enjoy this evening, but I have. You've made me feel… lighter."
Elizabeth smiled too. "Sometimes, the best moments happen when we least expect them."
When they finished their drinks, Samuel requested for her number, Elizabeth smiled with joy and gave it him,
He walked her to the road so she could take a cab. The night air was cool, and the streets were quiet.
"Can I see you again?" Samuel asked, his voice hopeful.
Elizabeth looked at him, her heart beating a little faster. She didn't know what the future held, but meeting Samuel felt… important.
"Maybe," she said with a playful smile. "Let's see what happens."
Samuel chuckled. "You like being mysterious, don't you?"
"You have no idea," Elizabeth replied before getting into the cab.
As she rode home, she gazed out of the window, lost in thought. Meeting Samuel had been unexpected. But was it really just an accident? Or was it something more?
She didn't know yet, but deep down, she felt like this was only the beginning.