Leya stood by the window, watching the rain as it blurred the lines between the city's skyline. It was one of those rare moments when the world felt still, when the noise of everyday life seemed distant, and all that remained was her thoughts and the soft patter of raindrops.
It had been a few weeks since that conversation with Reis, the one where they had admitted their fears and the possibility of a new beginning. Since then, things had shifted between them, but not in the way she had expected. There was no sudden, overwhelming rush of affection or clarity. Instead, their connection had deepened in quiet, unexpected ways. Small moments—his smile after a long day, the way he gently teased her, the way their silence was comfortable, even when words failed them—these were the moments that made her feel more than she had in a long time.
And yet, there were times when she still felt that old fear creep in. The fear of losing herself. The fear of trusting too much, only to be disappointed again.
Reis, on the other hand, was feeling the weight of his own expectations.
After everything they had been through—after the time apart, the longing, the confusion—he had come to realize something important. Leya was never going to be the person he wanted her to be. She was never going to fit neatly into the life he had envisioned for them. But that didn't matter. What mattered was that she was who she was, and that was enough.
But even as he came to terms with this, he couldn't help but wrestle with his own insecurities. Was he enough for her? Did she need more than what he could give her? The questions lingered in his mind, gnawing at him as he tried to balance his growing feelings for her with the pressure of his own doubts.
It was during one of those quiet moments, while they were out walking through the park on a cool afternoon, that they had the conversation that changed everything.
They had been talking about their childhoods, their dreams, their regrets, when Reis stopped walking and turned to face her. His eyes were serious, but there was a softness in them that made Leya's heart skip a beat.
"I've been thinking," he said, his voice low, almost hesitant. "We've been dancing around this for a while now, and maybe it's time we both faced it. I want to be with you, Leya. But I don't want to force you into something you're not ready for. I want you to have the space you need to figure out what this is… what we are."
Leya looked at him, her chest tightening at the raw vulnerability in his words. "Reis… I don't know if I'm ready either. But I know that I don't want to walk away from you."
"Then let's take it slow," he said, stepping closer to her. "We don't have to have all the answers right now. But I want to build something real with you. No rush, no pressure. Just… us."
Leya felt a wave of relief wash over her. It wasn't a promise of forever. But it was a promise to try. And for her, that was enough.
"Okay," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath. "Let's try."
As they continued walking, their hands brushed briefly before they intertwined, fingers clasping in a simple yet intimate gesture. The world felt a little less daunting in that moment, a little more hopeful. Maybe they didn't have all the answers. Maybe they never would. But they were willing to find their way together, one step at a time.