Chapter 13: The Calm Before the Storm

Chapter 13: The Calm Before the Storm

The Monthly Chronic-les of Life

Chapter 13: The Calm Before the Storm

September 30th: Youngstown, Ohio

Christy had prepared for the flight with a Delta-9 Spectrum + THC Gummy—a Rainbow Candy flavor to ease her nerves as she thought about the upcoming conversation with Paul.

The morning sun streamed through the windows as Paul sat at his kitchen table, sipping his coffee. The victory against Cleveland High was still fresh in his mind, and the excitement of the win had carried him through the weekend. But now, as he sat in the quiet of his home, Paul couldn’t shake the feeling that something was about to change.

He had just finished breakfast when his phone buzzed with a message from Christy. They had been texting regularly, but today’s message had an urgency to it that caught Paul’s attention.

Paul remembered Adam had left half a pre-roll on his back patio. Maybe it was time to try that Kim K’s Butt strain Adam had been raving about.

"Hey Paul, I was thinking about coming up to Youngstown for a visit soon. We need to talk about something important."

Paul’s heart skipped a beat as he read the message. What could be so important that Christy wanted to talk about it in person? He quickly typed back a response.

"Of course, Christy. I’d love to see you. What’s going on?"

There was a brief pause before her reply came through.

"I’ll explain everything when I get there. Just… keep an open mind, okay?"

Paul stared at the message, a sense of unease creeping into his thoughts. What could Christy possibly need to tell him that required an open mind? He couldn’t help but worry, but he pushed those thoughts aside, focusing instead on the excitement of seeing her again.

The rest of the day passed in a blur as Paul tried to distract himself with work and preparations for Christy’s visit. But the nagging feeling of uncertainty lingered, a quiet tension that refused to go away.

The next morning, Christy arrived in Youngstown, and Paul greeted her with a warm embrace. It was a relief to see her, to feel the connection between them, but he couldn’t ignore the serious look in her eyes.

They spent the day together, enjoying each other’s company and catching up on everything that had happened since Paul’s trip to Florida. But as the evening approached, Christy’s mood grew more subdued, and Paul could sense that the conversation he had been dreading was drawing near.

Finally, as they sat together on the couch, Christy took a deep breath and looked at Paul with a mixture of concern and determination. “Paul, there’s something I need to ask you about.”

Paul’s heart raced as he nodded. “Of course, Christy. You can ask me anything.”

Christy hesitated for a moment before reaching into her bag and pulling out a folded piece of paper. She handed it to Paul, her eyes searching his face for a reaction.

Paul unfolded the paper and felt his stomach drop as he recognized the Kamala Harris flyer he had found on his car after returning from Florida. It had been an odd and insignificant moment at the time, but now, seeing the flyer in Christy’s hands, he knew it had taken on a new significance.

“Paul,” Christy began, her voice steady but tinged with worry, “I found this in your car when I got here. I need to know… what does this mean? Are you… are you supporting her?”

Paul’s mind raced as he tried to process the situation. How could something so small and random have led to this moment? He opened his mouth to respond, but the words caught in his throat as he realized the implications of what Christy was asking.

Before he could answer, Christy continued, her voice barely above a whisper. “This is important to me, Paul. I need to know where you stand.”

Paul stared at the flyer in his hand, the tension between them thickening with each passing second. He could feel the weight of the decision before him, the potential for this moment to change everything between them.

And just like that, the sense of calm that had surrounded him after the big game evaporated, leaving him with a question he wasn’t sure he was ready to answer.

To be continued in October…

Guiding Questions:

  1. How will Paul navigate this unexpected challenge in his relationship with Christy?
  2. What impact will this revelation have on their growing bond and future together?
  3. How will the events of October shape the course of Paul’s life and career?
CLICK HERE TO READ PREVIOUS CHAPTER
Back to blog

Leave a comment

Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published.