Chapter 4: A Familiar Face, A Future Feared
Cora clutched her phone tightly, her thumb hovering over her mother’s contact. She had already ended the call once, and now guilt gnawed at her. Dad and Vivienne were chatting in the next room, their voices a low murmur through the hotel wall.
She flopped back on the bed with a sigh. Mom would definitely ask questions. And if Cora mentioned Vivienne was coming back with them, Mom would get that tight look on her face—the one where her smile didn’t reach her eyes.
Her phone buzzed suddenly. Mom calling back.
Panic flared in Cora’s chest. She silenced the phone and shoved it under her pillow. The screen glowed briefly before going dark.
“Cora? Are you packed?” Her father’s voice called from the doorway.
She sat up quickly. “Almost done, Dad.”
Damien stepped into the room, his tall figure casting a shadow across the carpet. “Good. Vivienne’s driver will be here soon.”
“I can’t wait to get home,” Cora said, excitement bubbling up again. “And Vivi’s really going to visit us there?”
Her father’s face softened slightly. “Yes, she’ll be staying at the house for a while.”
“Mom won’t like that,” Cora mumbled before she could stop herself.
A flicker of irritation crossed Damien’s face. “Your mother doesn’t dictate who visits our home.”
Something about his tone made Cora look down. She knew things weren’t good between her parents. They barely talked anymore, and when they did, the air felt cold and heavy.
“Have you spoken to your mother today?” Damien asked, his voice neutral.
Cora shook her head quickly. “No. She’s probably busy with work stuff.”
He nodded, seeming satisfied with her answer. “Finish packing. We leave for the airport in thirty minutes.”
When he left, Cora pulled out her phone again. Three missed calls from Mom. She bit her lip, then turned the phone off completely.
—
Elara stared at her silent phone, anxiety building with each unanswered call. It wasn’t like Cora to call and hang up. What if something was wrong?
She paced her apartment, debating whether to call Damien. Their agreement had been minimal contact except regarding Cora, but surely this qualified.
Before she could decide, her phone rang. Hope surged until she saw Mrs. Gable’s name on the screen.
“Hello, Mrs. Gable,” she answered quickly. “Have you heard from Cora? She called me but hung up, and now she’s not answering.”
“Miss Cora is fine, ma’am,” Mrs. Gable assured her. “I just spoke with her. They’re preparing to leave for the airport.”
Relief flooded through Elara. “Thank you. Did she say why she called me?”
“No, ma’am. But children are fickle with their attentions,” Mrs. Gable said kindly. “Will you be needing anything from the house today?”
Elara shook her head, then remembered she was on the phone. “No, thank you. I’m all settled in the apartment now.”
After hanging up, she walked to her window. The city sprawled below, busy and indifferent to her worries. She’d made the right choice leaving, she reminded herself. But moments like these—when the distance between her and Cora felt vast—made her doubt.
Her doorbell rang, startling her from her thoughts.
Her neighbor, Clara Hayes, stood in the hallway holding a plate of cookies. “Thought you might like something homemade,” she said with a warm smile.
Elara accepted the plate gratefully. “That’s very kind of you.”
Clara waved dismissively. “It’s nothing. I remember how it was starting over on my own after my divorce. Sometimes a friendly face makes all the difference.”
They chatted for a few minutes before Clara excused herself. Elara placed the cookies on her counter, oddly touched by the simple gesture. It had been ages since someone had done something nice for her without an agenda.
—
Later that afternoon, Elara’s phone chimed with an email notification. Crestwood College was celebrating its centennial next week. Her alma mater. The place where she’d first fallen in love with artificial intelligence—and where she’d met Julian.
On impulse, she decided to visit the campus. Perhaps walking those familiar paths would help quiet the restlessness inside her.
The university hadn’t changed much. Ivy still clung to the old brick buildings. Students lounged on the grass, absorbed in their devices or conversations. Elara felt a pang of nostalgia as she passed the computer science building where she’d spent countless hours coding and theorizing.
“Elara? Elara Vance?”
She turned at the sound of her name. A tall man with dark-rimmed glasses was staring at her in disbelief.
“Julian,” she breathed, recognizing him instantly despite the years.
Julian Croft’s face broke into a wide grin. “I thought that was you! What are you doing here?”
“Just reminiscing,” she said, suddenly self-conscious. “The alumni email about the centennial made me nostalgic.”
“Well, this is perfect timing. I’ve been meaning to reach out to you.” His eyes sparkled with excitement. “Have time for coffee? The old café is still there.”
Twenty minutes later, they sat at a corner table in the campus café, steaming mugs between them. Julian hadn’t changed much—still animated when he talked, hands gesturing to emphasize his points.
“So, YodaVision has expanded into predictive healthcare AI,” he explained. “The algorithms we started developing in grad school? They’re the foundation for systems now being tested in hospitals across the country.”
Pride swelled in Elara’s chest. “That’s amazing, Julian. You’ve accomplished so much.”
“We started it together,” he reminded her. “Your theoretical framework was revolutionary. I’ve just been building on it.” He paused, studying her face. “Why did you leave, Elara? You were the visionary between us.”
The question hung in the air. Elara traced the rim of her mug with her finger. “Marriage. Life. Choices that seemed right at the time.”
“And now?”
She looked up at him. “Now I’m getting divorced.”
Julian’s expression softened. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” she said quickly. “It’s been a long time coming.”
A silence fell between them, comfortable despite the years apart.
“What will you do now?” Julian finally asked.
Elara shrugged. “Start over, I suppose. Though where, I’m not sure. The tech world moves so fast. I’ve been out of it for six years.”
Julian leaned forward, his eyes intense. “Come back to YodaVision.”
“What?” The suggestion caught her off guard.
“I’m serious. We need you. The company needs you. We’ve grown, but we’ve never found someone with your vision.”
Elara shook her head. “Julian, I wouldn’t even know where to begin. The field has advanced so much—”
“You’ll catch up,” he interrupted. “You were always the quickest learner I knew.”
“It’s not that simple,” Elara protested. “I’ve been working as a secretary, for God’s sake. My skills are rusty at best, obsolete at worst.”
“So you’ll refresh them,” Julian countered. “Look, we have a project right now that could benefit enormously from your perspective. It’s a perfect re-entry point.”
Elara felt a flutter of something she hadn’t experienced in years—excitement mingled with fear. The idea of returning to AI work was both thrilling and terrifying.
“I don’t know,” she said honestly. “What if I can’t do it anymore? What if I’ve lost whatever talent I had?”
Julian reached across the table, covering her hand with his. “You haven’t. Talent like yours doesn’t disappear.”
“Six years is a long time,” she insisted. “The industry has changed completely.”
“But the fundamentals haven’t. And neither has your mind.” Julian squeezed her hand before withdrawing. “Just come tour the lab. Meet the team. No pressure, just see what we’re working on.”
Elara hesitated, memories of her last days at YodaVision flooding back. She’d left to focus on her marriage to Damien, believing it was the right choice. What a fool she’d been.
“What position would I even fill?” she asked, her voice small.
“Head of Research and Development,” Julian replied without hesitation. “The role has been waiting for you.”
“You can’t be serious.” Elara stared at him. “You’ve kept a C-suite position open for six years?”
“Not officially open,” he admitted. “But no one’s been right for it. Not the way you would be.”
The confidence in his voice made something shift inside her. Could she really do this? Return to the field she’d abandoned, take leadership of cutting-edge research? The thought was simultaneously exhilarating and terrifying.
Julian watched her, patient but eager. “Say yes, Elara. Come back where you belong.”
She opened her mouth, but fear froze the words in her throat. The enormity of what he was offering—a chance to reclaim her former passion, her expertise—collided with the crushing self-doubt that had grown during her years with Damien.
“But I… I…” Her voice trailed off, revealing the depth of her uncertainty. Could she really step back into that world after so long away? Or would she fail spectacularly, confirming what a part of her had feared all along—that she had sacrificed her brilliance for a marriage that had never truly existed?
