The old bookstore smelled of leather and dust, the kind of scent that told stories in its quiet way. Maya had spent countless hours within these walls, each book holding a different world. She loved the simplicity of this place—the soft rustling of pages, the faint hum of the overhead lights. Here, the noise of the outside world never seemed to reach her.

She was placing a newly arrived batch of books onto the shelves when she heard the doorbell jingle. It wasn't unusual—customers came and went throughout the day, searching for the perfect novel, something that could offer them a moment of escape. But today, the bell felt like an omen, an unfamiliar presence hanging in the air.

Maya didn't immediately look up. She continued her task, her hands moving without thought. But then, as the footsteps drew closer, something inside her shifted. A sudden stillness settled over the room. It was a sensation she hadn't felt in years, but it hit her like a wave, rolling in with the weight of memories.

"Maya."

Her breath caught in her throat. She knew that voice. The voice that used to call her name with so much tenderness. The voice that had once been her anchor.

Azel.

She turned slowly, the feeling of shock crashing over her. There he was—standing in the doorway. Time had worked its magic on him, changing his appearance in subtle ways. His hair was a little longer, tousled like he hadn't bothered to comb it, and his jawline had hardened with age. But his eyes—those deep, dark eyes—were the same. The same eyes that had once held her entire world.

"Maya," Aziel repeated, his voice soft but filled with urgency.

She took a step back, her pulse racing. The room seemed to shrink around them. For a moment, Maya couldn't find the words. She'd spent so long imagining this moment, picturing what she would say if he ever returned. But now that he was standing in front of her, the words seemed to escape her.

"What are you doing here?" Maya finally managed, her voice trembling despite her best efforts to remain calm. "Why now?"

Azel shifted uncomfortably, his eyes not leaving hers. "I—Maya, I need to talk to you. Please."

His voice had the same pull it always did. She could hear the desperation in it, the same tone he'd used when he wanted her to understand. But how could she? How could she ever understand after everything?

Two years. Two long years since he'd left without a word, without an explanation. She had thought, at first, that it was just a misunderstanding, that he'd come back and they'd pick up where they left off. But then the days turned into months, and the silence grew louder. She'd learned to live without him, to move on. But now, standing here, everything she had built came crashing down in an instant.

"You left, Aziel," she whispered, the words raw. "You disappeared. Without a word. Without a reason."

His face tightened with guilt, and for a brief moment, Maya saw the boy she once loved—the boy who had promised never to hurt her. But that boy was gone, and in his place stood a man with too many regrets.

"I know I hurt you," Aziel said, his voice tight with emotion. "More than you'll ever know. But I had to leave. I thought it was the only way to protect you."

Maya's chest tightened at his words, a familiar ache piercing through her. "Protect me?" she repeated, her voice sharp. "You think leaving me without a word is how you protect me?"

"I didn't want to hurt you," he said, his eyes pleading. "I thought that if I stayed, I'd only cause more pain. I was trying to keep you safe from something you couldn't understand."

Maya shook her head, fighting the tears that threatened to fall. "You don't get to make those decisions for me. You don't get to just walk out of my life and then come back like nothing happened."

Azel's expression faltered, but he didn't retreat. He stood his ground, his eyes never leaving hers. "I never stopped thinking about you, Maya. I've regretted leaving you every single day. But I didn't know how to fix it."

A lump formed in Maya's throat as the memories rushed back. She had loved him so completely, so deeply. And he had walked away without even a backward glance. The pain of that loss had been suffocating, and for a long time, she had convinced herself that she didn't need him. That she was better off without him. But now, seeing him again, all those feelings came rushing back.

"You think you can just show up and fix everything? That you can just undo the last two years?" Maya's voice wavered, the anger she'd buried beneath her calm exterior bubbling to the surface. "You can't just erase everything, Aziel."

"I'm not asking you to forgive me right away," he said, his voice raw with emotion. "I just want you to know that I'm sorry. That I never wanted to hurt you."

Maya's heart beat faster, the sound almost deafening in her ears. She wanted to scream at him, to push him away, to tell him to leave. But a small part of her—the part that still loved him, no matter how much time had passed—wanted to believe him.

"I don't know what you want from me," she whispered, the words tasting bitter. "I don't know if I can ever trust you again."

Azel stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. "I'm not asking you to trust me right now. I'm asking for the chance to show you that I've changed. That I'm not the same person I was when I left."

Maya's chest tightened, the weight of his words pressing down on her. She didn't know if she could give him that chance. The person she was now—independent, stronger—wasn't the same person who had loved him with all her heart. That version of her had been shattered when he left. And rebuilding had been hard, but she had done it. She had moved on, even if a small part of her had never quite let go.

"I can't do this," she said, stepping back, her voice barely above a whisper. "I can't just forgive you. Not yet."

Azel's face fell, the hope in his eyes dimming, but he nodded slowly. "I understand. I'm not asking for your forgiveness now. I just want you to know that I'm here. And I'll wait for you, Maya. As long as it takes."

With those final words, he turned and walked out of the bookstore, leaving Maya standing there, her heart heavy with uncertainty.

End of chapter 1.