CABB’S
SEPTEMBER 25th, 2026 CHALLENGE
TELL ME YOUR SECRET
INFATUATION
by Paula
Deep inside, at the bottom of a restored nightstand, lay an unforgettable part of herself, the dilemmas, sorrows, and delights of youth.
Rebecca took out the handmade journal. Time had left its mark on it; some pages were worn, and the writing had faded.
The very thought of a mental journey into the past sent a shiver down her spine, carrying with it the sweetness of that teenage dream. Her hand flipped through the pages of her memories to find that particular one. She took a deep breath, as if before diving into the deep sea…
I’m in love, and the true magic centered on one person. When we spent time together, I was light and joyful as a zephyr, yet his blue eyes were fixed solely on someone else…Lisa- a delicate, beautiful dance enthusiast.
At the mere mention of the storm that had raged in her heart back then, she closed her eyes for a while.
That’s when a feeling of irreversible loss mingled with painful tenderness and a growing sense of disappointment, because she was nothing more than a friend… And even though the flames of jealousy were gradually engulfing her;, she made peace with what fate offered her.
The next page brought an outburst of emotions; teenage love – that first, special kind. An entire site filled with his name. I never would have guessed that the letter V could take on so many fantastic shapes and that it goes so perfectly with hearts, butterflies, and flowers.
An involuntary smile appeared on her face; even years later, reading about it still stirred something deep within her.
The days pass too quickly – studying, chores, but more and more often, there are moments when my heart is filled with peace and acceptance.
However, life can be full of surprises, and one day, hope began to sprout in my heart.
My rival left the tunnels, but my dream boyfriend is still trapped in the darkness. The whole situation is shrouded in mystery, and Father does not let me reach him.
Helplessness.
The days passed, gray and uneventful.
“Don’t expose yourself to danger.” Another refusal echoed in my mind.
My quiet gloom.
I shout silently.
.
.
It was a long time of healing for him. He recovered, but something had changed; the sun’s rays with a little warmth seemed to have left him.
Every cell in my body is screaming, ‘Tell him’, but reason commanded silence.
The images in her mind were so vivid that she had to stop. At that time a sense of fear for him and his tender heart grew more and more. Her gaze returned to the text.
I had so much to say to him, but all I could do was just be there – or maybe that was enough.
The crushing despair was swallowed, and the door of opportunity closed.
Perhaps my destiny is to be his sister, his friend.
These were the last sentences written after those events. She put the diary aside, shutting away that personal part of her life, but after all these years, questions swirled in her mind.
If I had told him, would he have believed in himself sooner? And now that he’s found true love, and my own heart is happily taken by someone else, would he be happy to know that he was once someone’s perfect dream?
A pleasant sensation washed over her, and a smile lit up her delicate face, dispelling the lingering cloud of doubt. My love – my safe place – also has blue eyes and a heart that beats strongly for me…yes, some secrets must remain hidden.
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What a beautiful glimpse into the secret from Rebecca’s youth! I could feel all her teenage desperation and desire, and I got a glimpse of Vincent’s youthful struggles through her eyes. What a lost opportunity it was not to develop her character more in an episode.
JoAnn, I’m so glad you found so much emotion in this passage and were able to picture this event. Rebecca deserves a lot of attention; in my opinion, she’s a strong yet sensitive woman with an enormous capacity for kindness. Thank you for your wonderful commentary!
Paula, you’ve beautifully portrayed Rebecca’s feelings as she revisits a bittersweet part of her past. We can feel the strong emotions she had as a teenager and understand her initial joy in love and then its subsequent pain. You have brought us into her world so that we truly understand this is who she is, and you’ve shown us how she has been able to put into perspective those intense, meaningful moments of her past and become the woman she is now, full of hope and happiness with the love she was meant to know someday.
Thank you, Linda, for seeing and feeling so beautifully what I want to convey, and for writing about it in such a perfect way; your comment is a source of encouragement and great happiness.
I love this glimpse into Rebecca’s heart and mind, into her youth and adulthood as well. I love that she can look back at an unrequited love and know that it helped her recognize and appreciate the love that *is* hers. You take us there with your sensitive and gentle story. Thank you!
Carole—that’s how I see her—and I wanted those bittersweet memories of first love not to cause her pain in her adult life, which is why I gave her a deep, happy love with someone else, and portrayed her as an understanding, compassionate woman with a truly good heart.
Thank you for your kind words, and the fact that you feel what I’m conveying is a great compliment to me!
Paula, I love this take on what might have been. Your gentle writing style allows the reader to feel the emotions of Rebecca as she looks back at her first love. And I love the fact you gave her a present love for her happiness.
Thank you, Peg. I’m so glad you like my vision of Rebecca. I love it when, after all the hardships and struggles, someone finds happiness.
Paula. Another take on Rebecca’s teen years. Yet told in a wonderful unique way. And the ending. She realized that the love in youth was not as strong and matured as the true love later when older that comes from heartbreak and maturity. She realized that both Vincent and her are loved by people who truly loved them. Why wreck such a good thing? Some secrets must indeed be hidden. Thank you for a sweet story of past remembering.
You’re wonderful, PearlAnn. Your comment really made me smile and warmed my heart. You picked up on the important themes in this story and enjoyed my writing-what a reward for me. Thank you!