The next morning, Destiny woke up to a string of notifications on her phone. Her email was flooded with messages readers praising her latest story, editors from the writing platform reaching out, and one message that stood out among the rest.
It was from the publishing house Ethan had mentioned.
Her heart skipped a beat as she opened it.
"Dear Destiny,
We've reviewed your stories and are deeply moved by your writing. We would love to offer you a book deal and discuss possible publication timelines. Kindly reply if you're interested in proceeding."
Destiny gasped. Her hands trembled as tears welled in her eyes. She pressed a palm against her chest, whispering,
"Thank You, Lord I can't believe this is really happening."
For a moment, she just sat there frozen between disbelief and overwhelming joy.
Then, instinctively, she called Ethan.
Destiny: "Ethan, are you awake?"
Ethan: (sleepy voice) "Barely. Why? Did you just win an award or something?"
Destiny: (laughing through tears) "Close enough I just got a publishing offer!"
Ethan: (sits up immediately) "Wait, what? Destiny, that's incredible! Congratulations!"
Destiny: "They said they were moved by my stories. Ethan, I don't even know how to feel. It's happening so fast."
Ethan: "You deserve every bit of it. I told you your words were made to heal hearts."
Destiny smiled, her eyes misty.
Destiny: "Thank you, Ethan. You believed in me even when I doubted myself."
Ethan: "Always. And now it's your turn to believe that this is just the beginning."
Later that afternoon, Destiny met Ethan at a quiet restaurant near Jabi Lake Mall. She wanted to thank him in person.
She wore a soft blue dress and minimal makeup her smile doing most of the shining.
Ethan: "So, Ms. Soon-to-be-Published Author, how does it feel to have your dreams coming true?"
Destiny: "Surreal. I've been through so much, Ethan. Sometimes I still wake up expecting everything to fall apart."
Ethan: (gently) "That's because you've learned to survive storms. But Destiny, it's okay to trust the calm now."
His words sank deep into her heart. She blinked back emotion, staring down at her glass.
Destiny: "You make it sound so easy."
Ethan: "It's not easy. But neither is writing and look how far you've come with that."
They both smiled, sharing a comfortable silence as soft music played in the background.
Destiny: "Ethan, why are you always so kind to me?"
Ethan: (smirking) "Maybe I just like making writers smile."
Destiny: "Or maybe there's something more?"
Ethan: (pauses, his tone soft) "Maybe there is."
Their eyes met that same warmth returning, like a spark that refused to fade.
That night, back in her hotel room, Destiny couldn't sleep. She kept replaying the day in her mind the email, Ethan's words, the look in his eyes.
She turned on her bedside lamp and opened her journal.
Her hand trembled as she began to write:
"It's strange for so long, I only wrote about heartbreak and loss. Now, I'm learning to write about hope and maybe even love again."
A knock on the door startled her. She checked the time it was almost 10 p.m.
Destiny: "Who could that be?"
When she opened the door, Ethan stood there, holding a small paper bag.
Ethan: "I know it's late, but I brought you something."
Destiny: (smiling) "What is it?"
Ethan: "Jollof rice and fried plantain. You didn't eat much earlier, and I figured you'd need fuel for all those late night ideas."
Destiny laughed softly, touched by the gesture.
Destiny: "You're unbelievable. Thank you."
Ethan: "Anytime."
He turned to leave, but she called out
Destiny: "Ethan?"
Ethan: "Yeah?"
Destiny: (quietly) "I'm really glad you're in my life."
He smiled, that familiar warmth in his eyes.
Ethan: "Me too, Destiny. Me too."
That night, Destiny sat by the window with her meal, staring at the city lights.
Her dreams were unfolding, her heart was slowly healing, and a new chapter of her life was beginning one where love and purpose finally walked side by side.
She whispered softly to herself,
"Maybe, just maybe, this is what a second chance at love feels like."