Stella sat in the cozy corner of the café, her fingers wrapped around a warm cup of chamomile tea as she watched the people bustle outside the window. She had arrived early, trying to gather her thoughts before seeing him again. Each time she resolved to stay calm, her mind filled with the familiar swirl of emotions—anger, sadness, and, much to her frustration, anticipation.The bell above the door chimed, and she glanced up, her breath catching as Noah walked in. Even in a casual sweater and dark jeans, he looked every bit the polished, intense man she'd remembered. He scanned the room, and when his eyes landed on hers, he offered a tentative smile. There was something softer about him, something less guarded, as if he, too, had spent the past few days wrestling with memories."Hey," he greeted, his voice low as he settled into the seat across from her."Hey," she replied, forcing herself to meet his gaze, feeling the familiar pull.For a moment, neither of them spoke. Instead, they let the silence stretch, the weight of their shared history hanging between them. Finally, Noah cleared his throat."I know I owe you an apology, Stella. A real one."She tilted her head, raising an eyebrow. "You've apologized already, Noah. But I'm not sure you actually meant it."He ran a hand through his hair, letting out a frustrated sigh. "I did mean it. But I also know words don't change the past. When I ended things, I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought I was protecting you."She shook her head, her voice soft but laced with hurt. "You don't get to make that choice for me, Noah. I was old enough to make my own decisions. I loved you, and you shut me out without even asking how I felt."Her words hung in the air, the raw vulnerability of her confession making his expression soften. "I know. And I hate that I hurt you. I've replayed that night a thousand times in my head, thinking about what I should have done differently. I was... selfish."Stella looked down at her tea, tracing the edge of the cup. "You were always so focused on your plans, your future. I was afraid that if I asked you to stay, I'd just be holding you back. But I would've done anything to make it work."He reached across the table, his hand close enough to touch but stopping short, as if asking her permission. "I didn't want to drag you into a life of uncertainty, of constant stress and long hours. I thought you deserved more stability, someone who could actually be there for you."She took a breath, steadying herself. "But I didn't care about those things. I only cared about you."They sat silently for a moment, letting the gravity of her words sink in. The years of misunderstanding, the wounds they'd carried alone, lay open between them, fragile but undeniable."I was scared, Stella," he admitted, his voice rough. "Scared that I'd fail and drag you down with me. I was young, and my head was full of ambition, and I didn't want anything to slow me down. But in trying to protect you, I hurt you more than I ever thought I could."Stella's gaze softened, a flicker of understanding breaking through the layers of pain. She had always known that Noah was driven, that his ambition was part of who he was. But hearing him admit to his fear, his vulnerability—it was something she hadn't expected."What about now?" she asked quietly. "Are you still afraid?"He leaned back, a thoughtful look in his eyes. "Yeah, a little. But I've changed, Stella. These past years, I realized that ambition doesn't mean much if there's no one to share it with. I think I was so focused on building my future that I lost sight of what I actually wanted."Her heart gave a slight, hopeful tremor at his words. She glanced down at her hands, then back up at him, her voice softer. "So what do you want now?"A smile curved his lips, but it was bittersweet, full of longing. "To make things right with you. To start over, if you'd let me."She held his gaze, the sincerity in his eyes stirring something deep within her. But the hurt was still there, lingering like a shadow over the years they'd lost."You're asking a lot," she murmured, though her voice lacked its earlier hardness.He nodded. "I know. And I don't expect everything to go back to the way it was. But I can't pretend I don't still care about you, that I don't want a chance to... to be someone better for you."Stella looked away, her mind swimming. Part of her wanted to walk away, to guard herself from the possibility of getting hurt again. But another part—the part that had never stopped caring about him—wanted to believe that he had changed, that they both had.Just then, the barista set down two fresh cups of coffee with a bright smile. "On the house for a lovely couple," she said before walking away.They both laughed awkwardly, the tension breaking for a moment."Guess we give off a vibe," Noah said, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.Stella rolled her eyes, feeling a familiar warmth bloom in her chest. "Don't get too cocky, Dawson."They sipped their coffee in silence, letting the light settle back between them. But the unspoken questions remained, lingering at the edges of their conversation, like the echoes of a melody unfinished.---As they left the café, Noah walked with her down the chilly street, the winter air crisp against their faces."Do you remember that night at the gala three years ago?" he asked suddenly, glancing over at her.She nodded, a smile ghosting her lips. "How could I forget? It was the first time I ever saw you flustered."His cheeks flushed, and he laughed, shaking his head. "I think I realized then how much I was in over my head. I couldn't keep pretending I didn't feel anything for you. I think it scared me because I knew that if I let myself fall, I'd fall hard."She looked up at him, her breath catching at the intensity in his gaze. "You have a knack for running when things get complicated."A pang of guilt flashed in his eyes. "Maybe I did. But I'm not running now, Stella. I don't want to lose you again."They reached her apartment building, and she hesitated at the door, caught between the pull of the past and the hope of a different future. She met his gaze, her voice barely a whisper. "Then don't."His hand reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face, lingering just long enough to make her pulse race. "I mean it, Stella. I don't want to be a memory or a regret for you. I want to be here. With you."She felt her heart beating faster, each word unraveling the years of distance and heartache between them. "I don't want to be hurt again, Noah. But I also don't want to walk away from this."He looked at her, his gaze steady. "Then let's take it slow. Let's find out if this is something real. No expectations, no promises—just us."She nodded, feeling a glimmer of hope that she hadn't allowed herself to feel in years. "I think I can handle that."With one last lingering look, he turned to leave, but before he did, he paused, glancing back at her with that familiar smile that used to make her heart skip a beat. "Goodnight, Stella.""Goodnight, Noah," she whispered, closing the door as a surge of emotions washed over her.Inside her apartment, she leaned against the door, her heart full yet aching, knowing that this was just the beginning. The past might be full of shadows, but with Noah by her side, maybe, just maybe, they could find a way to build something new.