Sobs cut through the water. Yelizaveta bolted from the shower, towel twisted in her hair. The chill of the air did nothing to stop the wildfire of worry spreading through her. Taylor's name, a silent prayer on her lips, as she ran from the room.
Taylor was a mess on the fancy couch. Papers with important-looking seals and stuff were everywhere -- it looked like a sad, fancy snowstorm had blown through. My heart was freaking out in my chest.
"Tay..." My voice was barely there, all croaky and scared.
Her head jerked up, eyes all red and puffy. For a second, she kinda looked like she remembered who I was, but then her face just... sank.
"Yelizaveta," she whispered, voice cracking. A single tear rolled down her cheek. "It's Aunt Jane."
Yelizaveta's stomach dropped. Aunt Jane... the one who'd sent Taylor those boxes of treats, the one who always wrote back, the one who'd believed in Taylor's crazy American dreams.
They didn't speak for a long moment. The silence heavy with the weight from words not said. Yelizaveta moved across the room. Her bare feet padding softly against the wood. She sat beside Taylor, close, but not too close.
The room was so quiet Taylor could hear her own ragged breathing. Yelizaveta fidgeted beside her, then hesitantly laid a hand on her shoulder. It felt like a jolt at first, the lightest brush against her tense muscles.
Tears spilled over, hot and uncontrollable. Yelizaveta's hand moved. Rubbing slow circles on Taylor's back. The words wouldn't come. They didn't have to. Just the warmth, the unspoken 'I'm here', was enough for now.
"Her sobs died down, leaving her with a trembling sigh. Taylor huddled closer to Yelizaveta, feeling the warmth of her friend's arm against the damp towel. "The will," she choked out, a stray tear soaking into the paper in her hand. "It's...everything..." Her eyes drifted over the pile of documents.
Yelizaveta got it. This was so typical of Aunt Jane -- defiant to the end. It was a final gesture, a way to help Taylor escape a marriage she'd long endured.
"Okay, let's see what it says," Yelizaveta offered, keeping her tone calm and supportive.
Taylor's smile wavered tears threatening to spill over again. The legal documents blurred in front of them. The fancy words just noise compared to the hole in their hearts. But then they stumbled upon it -- a cottage by the sea. Aunt Jane's little slice of paradise is now Taylor's.
Yelizaveta squeezed Taylor's hand. "Let's go together," she said, her voice filled with quiet support.
First light was streaking the city all soft pinks and oranges. You know those moments when an idea just sneaks up on you? This whole inheritance thing -- it sucks, but what if it's the kickstart we need? Beach life, the sound of the ocean...it could heal something in us. And hey, crazier things have happened than falling for each other in the middle of all this.
A slow smile crept onto Yelizaveta's face. It matched the gentle warmth of the sunrise washing over the city. The fancy legal words were crystal clear -- Taylor was the heir, and the weight of it all seemed surprisingly...not heavy. This wasn't just about money and things; this was a ticket to a whole new life.
But Taylor wasn't reacting the same way. Her tears were gone but now her face was a mix of shock and...was that excitement? She hugged the will tight, eyes wide and bright.
"You won't believe this!" she practically shrieked, her voice shaking with excitement. "Yelizaveta, oh my God, I can't even process it!"
Yelizaveta leaned closer, a smirk playing on her lips. "Well, spill it, Taylor. Don't keep me in suspense."
Taylor shoved the document towards her, finger jabbing at a line. "Right there! It's all mine -- well, except this ridiculous old car for my nephew, what's-his-face...David." She erupted into laughter, the kind that makes your stomach ache, giddy and triumphant all at once.
Yelizaveta couldn't help but grin wider. This wasn't just about the inheritance -- Aunt Jane was sending a message from the great beyond. No strings attached no burdens to inherit...just the sweet taste of freedom for Taylor.
"Looks like Aunt Jane had a mischievous side after all" Yelizaveta mused a playful glint in her eye as she pulled Taylor into a hug. "So, what's it gonna be. Ms. Moneybags? Cocktails in the Bahamas. Or you the slow-down-and-smell-the-roses type?"
The weight that had been crushing me for so long was gone, like magic. Instead, I felt almost...giddy? I gave Yelizaveta's hand a squeeze and saw that same mischievous sparkle in her eyes. "Hold on a second," I said, the grin threatening to split my face. "I think I have something way more fun in mind. Think quaint cottage, salty air, and maybe -- just maybe -- getting my hands dirty with a certain hot mechanic who knows her way around a wrench."
"Liz plopped down next to Taylor on the couch, a grin spreading across her face. Taylor's story was too good -- all that laughter, a little rule-breaking, and those girly secrets. She could practically see teenage Taylor, eyes sparkling, soaking it all up from this woman who became her role model.
'Spill it, girl!' Liz said, giving Taylor a playful elbow. 'Aunt Jane sounds like a total badass.'"
"Taylor couldn't hide the warmth in her cheeks, but her smile held a certain satisfaction. 'She definitely left an impression. And well... Seems like her teaching style worked out pretty well for both of us, wouldn't you say?'
A wave of heat washed over Yelizaveta, the memory of their passion making her blush."
The wind kicked up all of a sudden, rattling the window and making those thin curtains swirl inside the room. They looked kinda like ghosts dancing -- funny, then not so funny. The whole vibe changed, and I felt this weird prickle on my skin. I don't know, it just felt...off. I shivered, and I could tell Yelizaveta felt it too.