Age is just a number - Episode 11
08-11-25 (13:43)
Episode 11: Shadows and Broken Vows
(Shary POV)
The Shadow Market air hung heavy, a cloying mixture of incense, exotic spices, and something indefinably darker, something that resonated with the turmoil churning within me. Layla's offer played on repeat in my mind, a seductive whisper promising power, freedom, and an escape from the suffocating expectations of Chatlanka.
Join me, Shary. Embrace the shadows.
But the image of Moana’s face, the hurt that had flickered in her usually radiant eyes when I confessed my entanglement with Layla, was a persistent ache in my chest. It was a brand, seared into my soul, a constant reminder of the pain I was inflicting.
With Moana, there was a comfortable warmth, a sense of belonging that I’d always taken for granted. It was the familiar rhythm of two souls intertwined, a melody I knew by heart. And I valued it. I loved it.
With Layla... it was different. It was a wildfire, a dangerous dance on the edge of a precipice. Her power was intoxicating, her intellect sharp, her gaze unnervingly perceptive. She saw something in me that no one else did, a potential for something… more.
Something darker, perhaps, but undeniably potent. She challenged me, pushed me beyond my comfort zone, awakened a part of me that had been dormant for too long. And now I felt the need to stay with her. Is it love that I'm feeling? Or is it lust?
The allure of her offer was undeniable.
To shed the expectations of Chatlanka, to wield untamed magic alongside Layla, to carve our own destiny… it was a tempting vision. But the cost?
Abandoning Moana, betraying the trust she’d placed in me, hurting her in a way that could never be undone? It was too much for my heart.
I ran a hand through my hair, my head throbbing with indecision. This was tearing me apart. I'm so confused I'm wondering if I have a mental problem.
I don't know what to do anymore.
I needed to talk to someone. Someone who wasn't directly involved, someone who could offer an objective
perspective. Someone who could see through the fog of my own emotions and help me find my way. I made my way through the market and went to Lilylove. I decided to buy her a pastry while I was there. I've been meaning to do that for a while. I hope she is okay.
Moana POV
He'd confessed everything. PaRiskY's petty jealousy escalating into outright betrayal, AMANUEL's willing compliance in his schemes, and, most devastatingly, his growing infatuation with Layla. The words hung in the air between us like a poisoned fog, choking the trust that had formed the foundation of our relationship. It hurt. It hurt so much. I'm not sure if I could ever be okay with this.
I stared at the Sunbloom, now carefully arranged in a vase on my windowsill. It was a symbol of his supposed devotion, a testament to the lengths he was willing to go to for me. But now, it felt like a mockery. The healing it represented was tainted, purchased with lies and deceit. It sickened me. I wanted to burn it. I wanted to scream.
I wanted to cry.
I moved to my healing room and Candy_baby arrived and started advising. I have never felt this angry before in my life. I felt I was betrayed.
How could he do this to me? I've always been there for him. I've always supported him. And this is how he repays me? By sleeping with another woman? That's not who I raised him to be.
How could he be so blind? How could he be drawn to someone like Layla, someone shrouded in darkness and fueled by ambition? Didn't he see the danger lurking beneath her surface, the manipulative currents that swirled around her like a shroud? Does he not care about me anymore?
Candy_baby kept urging me to be patient, to give him time to sort out his feelings. She insisted that he cared deeply for me, that his confusion was simply a temporary detour. But time felt like a luxury I couldn't afford. Every moment he spent with Layla only widened the chasm between us, eroding the foundations of our love. I didn't even want to look at him anymore.
I could feel the familiar comfort of her presence, but I found myself resisting it. I didn't want her pity, her well-meaning platitudes. I needed something more. I needed answers. I wanted to know why. I wanted to know what he was thinking. I wanted to know if he even cared.
I decide to go speak to Lilylove. Maybe she will have answers. Maybe she can tell me what I need to hear. Maybe she can help me heal. I need to leave, or I'll never get over him.
Candy_baby POV
I love watching Moana heal people.
She has dedicated her whole life to that, and now seeing her hurt is the worst thing ever. It's worse than not having candy for a week. She's like a daughter to me. I feel so bad that she's going through this. She doesn't deserve it.
I kept telling her to be patient. I didn't want her to rush into things and make rash decisions but she wouldn't listen.
She's always been stubborn. I'm scared Layla will do something to her. That woman is dangerous. She's not to be trusted. I hope everything ends up alright. I don't want to see Moana get hurt.
I hope I don't have to fight Layla. I want everyone to be friends. Why can't everyone just get along? Why does there have to be so much fighting and hatred? I just want peace and harmony. And candy.
T.B.C Don't forget to leave a Comment 
