The air inside the café was warm, filled with the sweet aroma of fresh coffee and pastries. Liam stood at the entrance for a moment, watching Max and Mei as they flipped through a wedding magazine, their heads close together, completely immersed in their conversation. Eva stood beside him, her expression peaceful, though a quiet sadness lingered in her eyes.
"Do you want to go in?" Eva asked, her voice soft but without the weight it had carried earlier.
Liam shook his head, offering her a small smile. "I think I need some time alone. You should go in, though. Max and Mei are waiting."
Eva hesitated for a moment, studying him. Then, with a gentle nod, she placed a hand on his arm. "Take care of yourself, Liam. I mean it."
"I will," he promised, his voice filled with sincerity. He watched her walk inside, her figure merging with the life around her, while he remained on the outskirts, observing from a distance.
Once she was out of sight, Liam turned away from the café, his steps aimless but deliberate. He let his feet carry him through the winding streets of the city, the familiar sights of the university fading into the background. He wasn't sure where he was going—he just knew he needed to move.
The streets gradually gave way to the quieter edges of town, where the noise of everyday life became a dull hum in the distance. Liam's thoughts drifted to everything that had happened over the past few months—his feelings for Eva, Max and Mei's engagement, the looming future that stretched out in front of him like an uncharted map. He had thought graduation would bring clarity, but all it had done was amplify the uncertainty.
As he wandered, he found himself by the old lake on the outskirts of campus, the place where he, Max, and Mei had spent countless afternoons during their university years. The water shimmered under the late afternoon sun, casting golden ripples across its surface. Liam sat down by the edge, the cool grass beneath him grounding him in a way he hadn't felt in weeks.
He stared at the lake, his thoughts slowing as he watched the gentle movements of the water. It was calming—peaceful, even. For the first time in a long while, Liam felt like he could breathe again. The endless cycle of overthinking, of trying to figure out where he fit in the lives of those around him, faded into the background. Here, by the lake, it didn't seem to matter as much.
Liam pulled out his phone and scrolled through his contacts, his thumb hovering over Eva's name. He didn't know why, but he felt the urge to call her, to hear her voice again—even after everything they had just talked about. But as his finger hovered, he realized that part of moving forward was letting go. Eva needed space, and so did he.
He closed his phone and let his gaze drift back to the water.
"You look like you've got the weight of the world on your shoulders."
Liam looked up, surprised to see Mei standing a few feet away, a playful smirk on her face. She walked over and sat down beside him without waiting for an invitation.
"How did you know I was here?" Liam asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Max has his ways," she replied with a shrug, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. "Besides, I knew you'd come to this spot. It's kind of your thing, isn't it? Sitting by the lake, thinking about life."
Liam chuckled, shaking his head. "I guess it is."
Mei leaned back on her hands, tilting her head to watch the sky as it began to darken into the soft hues of evening. "Max told me about you and Eva," she said quietly. "How are you holding up?"
Liam sighed, unsure how to put everything into words. "I don't know. It's weird, I guess. I feel like I did the right thing, but it still feels... hard."
"That's because it is hard," Mei said gently. "You care about her. Of course it's going to hurt. But sometimes, letting go is the only way to move forward. You know that."
He nodded, appreciating her straightforwardness. Mei had always been good at cutting through the noise, getting to the heart of things.
"And what about you and Max?" Liam asked, changing the subject. "How's the wedding planning going?"
Mei grinned, her eyes lighting up. "Oh, it's a circus, but in a good way. Max has this wild idea of having a beach wedding, and I'm not sure if he's kidding or if he's actually serious. But honestly, I'm just happy. I never thought I'd be planning a wedding, you know? Life has a way of surprising you."
Liam smiled at the joy in her voice. Mei and Max had found something special—something that felt solid and real, even amidst all the uncertainty. It made him think that maybe, just maybe, he could find that too someday.
"Do you ever feel like... everything's moving too fast?" Liam asked after a pause. "Like, one day we're in university, and the next, everyone's getting married, finding their careers, moving on. It's hard to keep up."
Mei considered his words for a moment before answering. "Yeah, I do. But that's life, isn't it? It moves fast, and sometimes it feels like you're just trying to hang on. But here's the thing, Liam—you don't have to have it all figured out right now. It's okay to be unsure, to take your time. Life will wait for you."
Liam looked at her, gratitude swelling in his chest. Mei's words felt like a lifeline in the middle of the chaos swirling around him.
"Thanks," he said softly.
Mei smiled warmly and nudged him with her elbow. "You'll be fine. You've got people who care about you—Max, Eva, me. We're all in this together."
They sat in comfortable silence for a while, watching as the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows over the lake. Eventually, Mei stood up and brushed off her jeans.
"Come on, let's go grab dinner. Max is probably wondering where we disappeared to, and knowing him, he's already picked out a dozen ridiculous wedding themes by now."
Liam laughed, standing up and following her. As they walked away from the lake, he felt a little lighter, the weight on his shoulders not quite as heavy as before. There was still uncertainty, still the unknown ahead, but for the first time in a while, it didn't feel as overwhelming.
He glanced back at the water one last time, the reflection of the setting sun dancing on the surface, before turning to face the road ahead.
The future was still unwritten, and that was okay. He didn't have all the answers, but maybe, just maybe, he was starting to find his way.