Chapter 43: Breaking Point (Part 1)

The first evening of Spring marked the arrival of the New Year's celebration in Mineral Town. The town buzzed with energy as laughter and conversation filled the air. At the inn, the older residents gathered around tables laden with food and drinks, swapping stories and offering well wishes for another prosperous year. The warmth of the hearth and the clinking of glasses created a cozy, familiar atmosphere—one of tradition and shared history.

Outside, at Rose Square, the younger townspeople surrounded a roaring bonfire, their faces illuminated by the flickering flames. They talked excitedly, voices overlapping as they shared hopes and plans for the year ahead. The crisp night air carried the scent of burning wood and the distant hint of early spring blossoms.

The only people absent from the festivities were Elli and Doctor Trent, stationed at the clinic in case of an emergency.

As promised, Pete was there, standing among the crowd. He found himself with Rick, Popuri, and Karen, engaged in lighthearted conversation about their goals for the coming year. It felt… normal. Comfortable, even. For the first time in what felt like forever, Pete wasn't watching from the sidelines—he was present, taking part in the town's traditions instead of isolating himself in the quiet of his farm.

Popuri nudged him playfully. "So, Pete, any big plans for the year? Or are you just going to keep hiding away on your farm like an old hermit?"

He chuckled, shaking his head. "I think I've had enough of being a hermit for one lifetime."

Karen raised an eyebrow. "That sounds dangerously close to a promise to socialize more."

Pete smirked. "Maybe. We'll see."

As the evening wore on and the sky deepened into an inky black, the time for dancing finally arrived. The bonfire crackled, casting warm, golden light over the square as the melody of a lively tune filled the air. Laughter and chatter faded into the background as young men and women paired up, stepping onto the makeshift dance floor.

Before Pete could retreat into the shadows, Karen grabbed his hand with a playful smirk. "Come on, no excuses. You're dancing."

He barely had time to protest before she tugged him toward the others and into the circle of music and lantern light. Gray and Mary danced nearby in a slow, steady rhythm, their movements cautious but warm, while Cliff and Ann twirled with infectious enthusiasm, laughter spinning with them as they moved. As the melody swelled and the beat settled into something lively and certain, Pete found his body responding on instinct. His steps matched the music, his hands guided Karen with gentle confidence, and before long they moved as though they had rehearsed this moment a hundred times.

Karen raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed, her lips curving into a curious smile. "Alright, Pete… where'd you learn to dance like this?" she asked, voice playful yet genuinely wondering.

Pete chuckled softly, deciding on the safest answer he could manage. "Let's just say I have some experience," he replied, keeping it light.

What he didn't say lingered quietly in the back of his mind. He remembered dancing with another Popuri in Flowerbud Village the previous year, during the Flower Festival—a memory that glowed with warmth and ache all at once. The dance here felt uncannily similar, familiar enough to tug at old feelings while belonging to an entirely different life. Even if that time had lasted only three days, it had mattered deeply. But tonight, as he moved beneath lantern light and music, he allowed the past to fade softly into the background and chose, for once, to simply exist in this moment.

As the night stretched on, the clinic remained painfully quiet, its usual sterile calm transformed into something heavier—an ache that lingered in the air like a wound that refused to heal. Elli sat at the front desk with her chin resting on her folded arms, eyes unfocused as the candle beside her flickered and cast trembling shadows along the walls. She could faintly hear the music drifting from Rose Square, muted by distance but undeniably joyful. Laughter, cheers, celebrations—all of it felt like another world entirely. "Without me," she thought bitterly, the words settling like ice in her chest.

Her heart throbbed with a dull, persistent ache that hadn't faded since the day everything fell apart. She missed Pete—more deeply than she was willing to admit aloud. New Year's had always belonged to them, tucked away together inside the quiet clinic while the town celebrated outside. It wasn't glamorous, but it had been theirs… warm smiles, idle conversation, the gentle comfort of knowing she mattered to him. This year the silence only reminded her of what she had lost. She had convinced herself they would still have something, that even if they weren't together, they could remain close. That he would still choose to be here. To show he cared.

But he wasn't here.

He had walked out of her life, and the empty clinic felt like proof that he wasn't coming back. The realization tightened inside her chest until she could barely breathe. A single tear slipped down her cheek, then another, each one falling silently onto the desk. Maybe he didn't love her anymore. Maybe he never had—not the way she loved him. And with that thought, the loneliness around her didn't just feel like silence.

It felt like heartbreak.

A soft creak echoed through the quiet clinic as Doctor Trent emerged from the back room, pausing when he saw her slumped over the desk. "Elli?" he asked gently. "Are you okay?"

She inhaled deeply, considering her answer, but no words came. What could she say? That she felt like a ghost haunting her own life? That every day without Pete hurt more than the last?

Doctor Trent sighed and moved in front of her, resting a hand on the desk. "There probably won't be any emergencies tonight," he said. "And if something does come up, I can handle it. You should go to the festival."

Elli hesitated, wringing her hands in her lap. "I… I don't know. What if Pete is there?"

Trent gave her a reassuring look and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Then talk to him. Find out if this really is the end, or if there's still something worth saving."

Elli's breath hitched, her mind racing with everything she wanted to say to Pete—but would it even matter? Still, the thought of staying here, drowning in her loneliness, was worse.

She nodded slowly. "You're right… Thank you, Doctor."

Gathering her courage, she rose from her seat, smoothed out her dress, and stepped toward the door. The cold night air greeted her as she took a deep breath, her heart pounding with uncertainty. And then, with hesitant but determined steps, Elli made her way to the square.

Back at Rose Square, the festive energy remained high as laughter and music filled the air. Pete was still dancing with Karen when Rick suddenly approached, clearing his throat.

"May I cut in?" Rick asked, looking at Karen expectantly.

Pete nodded. "Of course," he said, stepping back to let Rick take his place.

As Karen smiled and took Rick's hand, Pete retreated toward the sidelines, watching as they moved together in rhythm. They looked happy, caught up in the celebration, and he couldn't help but feel like an outsider looking in.

Before he could dwell too much on the thought, Popuri appeared beside him, her bright eyes sparkling under the lantern lights.

"Standing around already?" she teased. "Come on, dance with me."

Pete smiled and nodded. "Alright."

She took his hand, and together, they returned to the heart of the celebration. The music picked up again, and Pete allowed himself to be swept back into the moment, moving in sync with Popuri as the festival carried on around them.

As Elli approached Rose Square, the lively sounds of music and laughter reached her ears. She walked past the inn, her heart pounding in anticipation. She wasn't sure what she hoped to find here tonight—closure, maybe, or a chance to talk to Pete. But just as she was about to step into the square, she froze.

There, beneath the glow of lanterns, Pete was dancing. And not just with anyone—he was with Popuri.

Elli's breath caught in her throat as she watched them move together. The way Popuri smiled at him, the way Pete held her hand—it was too much. A sharp pang of jealousy coiled in her chest, twisting like a knife. She had seen them together before, twice at the clinic, but this? This felt different. The way they danced so effortlessly, so in sync, made her heart ache.

She took a step back, retreating into the shadows, her fingers curling into fists. Maybe she was wrong to come here. Maybe she should turn around and leave before she humiliated herself.

Meanwhile, in the square, the song came to an end, and the dancers began to slow. Laughter and cheers filled the air as everyone decided to take a break. Popuri, still energized, turned to Rick and Karen.

"I'm going to the inn to grab some drinks for everyone," she announced cheerfully.

Rick nodded. "Need help carrying them?"

Popuri waved him off. "I got it! You guys just relax."

As she disappeared toward the inn, Pete exhaled deeply, running a hand through his hair. He hadn't expected to enjoy himself tonight, but for the first time in a long while, he felt… lighter. Little did he know, just a few feet away in the darkness, Elli stood watching—her emotions a storm brewing beneath the surface.

As Popuri made her way to the inn, the cool night air carried the lingering sounds of music and laughter from the square. She hummed softly to herself, still feeling the energy of the dance. But then—a chill ran down her spine. Something was off.

The distinct sensation of being watched prickled at the back of her neck. She slowed her steps, listening carefully. The festival was still in full swing behind her, but something—or someone—was moving just beyond the light. Popuri turned her head slightly, and that's when she saw her, Elli.

Her posture was rigid, her expression blank—hollow, like a doll. But her eyes… they were filled with something dark, something Popuri had never seen in her before.

Before Popuri could say anything, Elli lunged. Reacting purely on instinct, Popuri caught her by the wrists, stepping back and using her strength to keep Elli at bay. "Elli, stop! What are you doing?" she gasped.

But Elli didn't answer. She kept pushing forward, her body moving as if possessed by something beyond her control. It wasn't anger that fueled her—it was something far worse. Desperation.

"Elli, snap out of it!" Popuri pleaded, struggling to hold her back.

The commotion had already drawn attention. A sharp cry for help escaped Popuri's lips, cutting through the festival's merriment like a knife. Within moments, doors burst open. The people from the inn and Rose Square rushed toward them, the warm glow of lanterns illuminating the tense scene.

Pete was among the first to arrive, his heart pounding as he saw Popuri restraining Elli. "What's going on?" he demanded, stepping forward.

Elli's gaze flickered toward him, and something in her seemed to shatter.

"Why?" Her voice was barely above a whisper, trembling with raw emotion. "Why would you do this to me?"

Tears welled up in her eyes, spilling over as she finally broke. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed onto the cold ground, sobbing. "I loved him!" A heavy silence fell over the crowd. No one knew what to say.

Popuri slowly loosened her grip, stepping back as Elli curled in on herself, her sobs shaking her small frame. The festival's joyful energy had been stripped away, replaced with an aching tension that no one could ignore.

Pete stood frozen, guilt clawing at his chest. He wanted to say something—to reach out—but the words wouldn't come. Elli had finally broken, and the entire town had witnessed it.