Chapter 364 Childlike Joy
Ella
The unexpected sign on the door was like a punch to the gut-a vivid, glaring announcement that one of my favorite spots had been shut down.
“CLOSED FOR BUSINESS”, it read. I felt the corners of my mouth turn downward as I stepped
“Man, this sucks,” I mumbled, still unable to shake off the disappointment.
Logan looked at me, his eyes reflecting a softer hue of concern. “Damn. You seem like you really liked this place.”
“Yeah, I did,” I confessed, running a hand through my hair. “I know it’s silly, but they had really good food, and I came here a lot when I was younger. I wonder why they shut down all of a sudden.”
He chuckled, a warm sound that instantly reminded me that not everything had to be doom and gloom just because one of my favorite restaurants had closed. I think what really struck me more than anything, though, was the fact that it just reminded me of the fact that not everything could stay the same.
“Well,” Logan said, “I guess we’ll have to find somewhere else to go. Surely there’s more than one good restaurant in this huge city.”
I nodded, stepping away from the door. “Of course. I know of a few other places within walking distance from here.”
The smirk that spread across Logan’s face had a touch of triumph to it. “Alright, then. Lead the way, Miss Morgan.”
With that, we began walking further downtown, meandering through a labyrinth of narrow streets and bustling avenues. It was nearing dusk, and the sky had morphed into a stunning canvas of oranges and pinks. The chatter of evening commuters and the clinking of dishes from nearby places to eat filled the air, a symphony of city life.
As we moved farther, the concrete urban landscape started to give way to more greenery. Trees, orange and red from the autumn changes, curled over the walkways and shrouded our view of the sky, making for a cozy environment.
This was what I loved most about this city-it held surprises around every corner, like secret pockets of peace amidst the chaos.
“Wow,” Logan whispered, his voice tinged with awe as he took in the scenery. “You didn’t tell me the city had places like this.”
“Wouldn’t be much of a surprise if I did, now would it?” I retorted, amused by his childlike wonder.
He chuckled, stealing a quick glance at me. “You have a point.”
We continued our stroll, the path leading us into what appeared to be a park. But this was no ordinary park-it was an amusement park.
Strings of colorful lights adorned the vintage booths and rides, casting a magical glow over the area. The scent of funnel cakes and popcorn wafted through the air, a nostalgic aroma that tugged at some deep, buried corner of my heart.
Suddenly, I felt like I was eight again, during the summer when my dad and my stepmom met. I remembered coming to a park much like this, maybe even the same park, and spending the most magical day with them. I never forgot that day.
Logan followed my gaze as we passed by the park, his eyes landing on the vast sprawl of games, rides, and, then a carousel, standing majestically at the center of it all.
The intricate details, the polished wood, and the whimsical music spilling from its core made it a work of art.
I half expected him to walk past without a word, but as it turned out, I was in for the surprise of a lifetime. Logan stopped in his tracks. His eyes went wide, locking onto the carousel as if it was some sort of mystical artifact.
“There’s a carousel here?!”
The shock in Logan’s eyes when he said those words was like a mix of giddy excitement and incredulity, as though he had just stumbled upon a hidden treasure.
I blinked, looking from him to the carousel-its vibrant hues, ornate details, and lively music- and back again. “Yes,” I said, stifling a chuckle. “They have a carousel here.”
Logan grinned, a boyish expression that melted away a few years from his face. “I’ve never actually been on one.”
I squinted, convinced he was joking. “You’ve never been on a carousel? Are you serious? It’s like the most basic ride at any theme park.”
“Ella, I’ve never been more serious in my life,” he assured me.
His eyes-those wide, captivating blue orbs- never left the carousel. “Growing up, my parents never took me to amusement parks, fairs, nothing like that. My dad, of course, thought it was all a waste of time and money. So, I missed out on a lot of these quintessential childhood experiences.”
A pang of sympathy coursed through me. My own childhood flashed before my eyes-a blur of roller coasters, Ferris wheels, and yes, carousels. It was a carefree world where dreams were only a ride away, and I couldn’t fathom someone growing up without even a taste of it.
Before I could express my pity or offer some comforting platitudes, Logan’s hand found mine, his fingers intertwining with a sense of urgency. I felt my heart stop for a moment at his touch, shocked by our sudden closeness.
“Come on,” he said, grinning. “Let’s get tickets.”
“Wait, what? Now?” I barely managed to articulate as he practically dragged me toward the ticket booth. My feet stumbled over each other, trying to keep up with his pace.
“Yes, now,” he declared, stopping before the booth where a teenage attendant looked utterly bored. “Two passes, please.”
I watched as he pulled out his wallet, extracting a couple of bills and handing them over. The attendant perked up slightly, processed our tickets, and handed them to Logan.
“You do realize we came downtown to eat, right?” I laughed, incredulous but honestly completely enamored by his impulsiveness. “And not to ride carousels?”
“I know, I know,” he said, accepting the passes and immediately pulling me in the direction of the entrance. “But right now, I’m hungry for a different kind of experience.”
His focus was laser-like when it came to this carousel. I felt a chuckle escape my lips.
The sheer delight radiating from him was infectiously adorable. Here was a man who had just rediscovered a missing chunk of his childhood, and I found myself wondering about the other experiences he had been deprived of. How many more firsts were buried in him, waiting to be unearthed?
“Look at the horses!” Logan said, his voice tinged with awe. “Do you see how their manes flow, like they’re actually galloping? And look at that dragon over there!”
I followed his pointing finger to a vividly colored dragon, its scales a luminous green and its eyes fiery red. “It… is actually really cool,” I admitted, blushing.
“I bet it would be an amazing ride,” he speculated, his eyes twinkling like the carousel lights.
“We’ll never know if we just stand here gawking,” I pointed out, feeling my own enthusiasm building thanks to Logan’s unadulterated excitement.
Logan grinned and met my eyes again, their blue depths sparkling in the twinkling lights. Seeing him like this was like watching a child experiencing the world for the first time, nothing but pure, uninhibited joy.
But it wasn’t just that that I was focusing on.
It was our hands, still intertwined, that really captured my attention.
