The days following their last meeting were filled with an odd sense of anticipation. Leya couldn't shake the feeling that things between her and Reis were shifting, but not in a way she could fully grasp. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw him, his eyes searching hers with that quiet, knowing look that seemed to unravel something deep within her.
It was unsettling, in a way. She had spent so many years building walls, convincing herself that she was fine, that she didn't need anyone. But now, in his presence, everything felt different.
She took a deep breath as she stood in front of the mirror that morning, adjusting her scarf, her fingers brushing against the cool fabric. It had become a routine of sorts, this ritual of preparing herself for the inevitable meeting with Reis. But it was more than just a physical preparation—it was an emotional one.
What was she doing? What was he doing?
Leya knew she couldn't keep pretending that everything was fine, that she could go on with her life as though nothing had changed. Because everything had changed. The connection between her and Reis was undeniable now, but with that came a new kind of uncertainty. She had never been good with uncertainty.
Reis, on the other hand, was equally conflicted.
After their last meeting, he had replayed every word they had exchanged, every glance, every moment of hesitation. He had never been one to shy away from his feelings, but with Leya, it was different. He had never fully understood what they had until now. The years apart had shaped them both in ways that were hard to decipher.
He had always believed that love was something that grew, something that evolved over time, but what he was feeling for Leya now felt more like a force of nature—something that was both familiar and foreign, gentle yet powerful.
The truth was, Reis was scared. He had never been afraid of love before, but with Leya, everything felt so... fragile. The years apart had created a distance between them, one that they both struggled to bridge. And yet, every time he saw her, it was like the distance melted away, if only for a moment.
Leya met him at their usual café again, the same table where they had shared so many conversations in the past. But today, the air between them was different. There was no easy comfort, no natural flow to their words. They sat in silence for a long time, the weight of their unspoken thoughts hanging between them.
Finally, Leya broke the silence. "Reis," she began, her voice quiet but steady. "I've been thinking a lot about us... about everything. I don't know if we're making the right choice here."
Reis' gaze softened, his eyes narrowing with concern. "What do you mean?"
She hesitated, her fingers playing with the edge of her coffee cup. "I mean... I don't know if we can just pick up where we left off. So much has changed, and I don't want to fool myself into thinking we can go back to how things were. Can we even do that? Can we move forward without everything we've been through weighing us down?"
Reis leaned back in his chair, his fingers brushing against the edge of the table as he took in her words. He understood what she was saying—he had thought the same thing countless times. But there was something in the way she looked at him now, something that made him believe there was a possibility of moving forward, even if it meant starting from scratch.
"We don't have to go back to how things were," Reis said softly. "We can't. But maybe... maybe we don't have to leave it all behind either. Maybe what we have now—what we are now—can be something new. We don't have to be who we were before, Leya. We can be who we are right now. And that's enough."
Leya looked at him, her heart racing in her chest. She wanted to argue, to say that it wasn't that simple, but something in his voice stopped her. Maybe it was the sincerity in his words, or maybe it was the way he looked at her, as though she were the only person in the world who mattered.
"I don't know if I'm ready for this," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm scared, Reis. I'm scared that we'll fall into old patterns, that we'll hurt each other again."
Reis reached across the table, his hand resting on hers, steady and warm. "We don't have to be perfect, Leya. We just have to be real. We take it one step at a time. No expectations, no pressure. Just us. I'm willing to try, if you are."
The vulnerability in his words touched something deep inside her. She had spent so long building walls around her heart, convincing herself that she was fine without anyone, without him. But now, with him sitting here, offering his heart so openly, she realized that she didn't want to be alone anymore. She didn't want to let fear dictate her future.
"I'm willing to try," she said softly, her eyes meeting his.
For the first time in years, Leya allowed herself to feel hope. The kind of hope that didn't come with guarantees, but with the possibility of something real.