Broken Silence

When the month started, my eyes drifted to a few things. First was Thanksgiving, then thoughts of the Christmas season, but eventually I settled back onto the writing projects for the month, including my Wattpad stories. While the other tales held higher priority, once I wrapped up those pieces, I looked back through my notes and rediscovered my excitement for the rough outline of Darren Gilbert’s next installment. Even with a solid grasp on the recent entries, I knew this storyline needed a fresh review of everything I’d written so far. As soon as I finished that investigation, I dove into crafting the full tale.

At the Academy, life rarely slows enough for anyone to notice the quiet moments. Lessons shift like tides, friendships form and fracture, and every hallway carries echoes of triumphs and mistakes. For Darren Gilbert, the shadows of old memories linger in places he never expected to find them.

But even in a place shaped by magic and ambition, it’s the unplanned moments that hold the greatest weight. A simple walk through the cafeteria, an empty seat against a quiet wall, and the hush of a still afternoon offer him a rare moment of respite, until the past presses in.

As the surrounding silence is broken by a voice Darren hasn’t heard this close in far too long, the past and present collide in a way he can’t ignore. What follows isn’t a grand confrontation, but something far more delicate. It is a small, tentative step toward mending something lost. Will Darren accept the chance to heal what was broken? Or will the weight of memory keep him from reaching back?

After selecting what looked most appetizing to eat, Darren gripped his tray and slipped to the table tucked away against the back wall. He settled into an empty seat and studied the vacant cafeteria, his eyes landing on the table he had sat at when he entered the Academy. A sudden shift in the light created dancing shadows that filled the table with familiar ghosts.

His gaze dropped to the plate of food as he rearranged it on the plate. His free hand drifted to his stomach as he glanced away from his unwanted meal. Darren released his held breath and sighed, his attention shifting to the window. A handful of birds danced over the courtyard, fluttering among the hanging trees. As he followed the darting movements, his lips curled, creating the hint of a smile. When Darren’s shoulders relaxed, a shadow stretched over the table, teasing his peripheral vision.

“Do you mind if I join you?”

Darren’s fork paused mid-scrape. Despite its familiarity, it felt like something from a long-forgotten dream. The faint smile faltered as his gaze drifted to the source of the voice he recognized. Maxwell stood across from him, clutching a steaming cup. His beard was unkempt, something unusual for the dwarf, but his eyes held the same storm they’d shared when their friendship shattered.

Darren straightened in his seat as he laid his fork onto the plate and gestured at the seat across from him. “Sure, it wouldn’t bother me.”

Maxwell set the cup before Darren’s tray as he dropped into the seat with a weary groan. For several heartbeats, neither former friend dismissed the awkward silence settling between them. Finally, Maxwell wiped his mouth before pushing the mug closer to Darren as he pursed his lips. When he leaned back, the dwarf crossed his arms across his chest.