Vivienne sat in her small apartment, surrounded by the familiar comforts of home. She had spent the entire day holed up inside, trying to avoid the outside world. But as the sun began to set, casting a warm orange glow over the room, Vivienne couldn't shake off the feeling of restlessness that had settled in her stomach.
She got up from the couch and walked over to the window, staring out at the city skyline. The view was familiar, yet somehow, it felt different tonight. Maybe it was the fact that she had just turned 25, and was feeling the weight of adulthood settling in. Or maybe it was something else entirely.
As she stood there, lost in thought, Vivienne's mind began to wander back to the past. She thought about her high school days, about the laughter and the tears, about the first love that had changed her life forever.
Rico. Just the mention of his name was enough to send a shiver down her spine. They had been inseparable in high school, their love burning bright and true. But it had all come crashing down when Rico had broken up with her, leaving Vivienne heartbroken and devastated.
It had taken her years to get over the pain of that breakup, but eventually, she had moved on. She had gone to college, started a career, and built a new life for herself. But despite all the progress she had made, Vivienne couldn't shake off the feeling that a part of her was still stuck in the past.
As she stood there, lost in thought, Vivienne felt a sudden pang of sadness. She realized that she had never really gotten closure, never really gotten the chance to confront Rico about the way he had treated her.
But as she stood there, feeling sorry for herself, Vivienne suddenly heard a knock at the door. She got up to answer it, expecting it to be one of her friends or maybe even a delivery person.
But to her surprise, it was her best friend, Emily. Emily was standing in the hallway, a concerned look on her face.
"Hey, Viv, I've been trying to reach you all day," Emily said, walking into the apartment. "What's going on? You've been acting really weird lately."
Vivienne sighed, feeling a mix of emotions. She didn't know how to explain what was going on, didn't know how to put into words the feelings that were swirling inside her.
"It's just Rico," Vivienne said finally, feeling a lump form in her throat. "I saw his photo online, and it just brought up a lot of old feelings."
Emily nodded sympathetically, sitting down next to Vivienne on the couch. "I know how you feel," Emily said. "I've been there too. But you have to remember that you're not the same person you were back in high school. You've grown, you've changed, and you're stronger now."
Vivienne nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Emily. Her friend was right, of course. Vivienne wasn't the same person she had been back in high school. She had grown, she had changed, and she was stronger now.
But as she sat there, thinking about Rico and their past, Vivienne couldn't shake off the feeling that a part of her was still stuck in the past. She knew she had to move on, but she didn't know how.
As the evening drew to a close, Emily got up to leave. "I'll call you tomorrow, okay?" Emily said, hugging Vivienne tightly. "And don't worry, Viv. You'll get through this. You're strong, and you're capable."
Vivienne smiled, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Emily. Her friend was right, of course. Vivienne was strong, and she was capable. She just needed to remember that.
As Emily left, Vivienne sat back down on the couch, feeling a sense of determination wash over her. She was going to move on from Rico, she was going to forget about the past, and she was going to start living in the present.
But as she sat there, feeling determined, Vivienne's phone suddenly buzzed. She looked down, expecting it to be Emily or maybe one of her other friends.
But to her surprise, it was a notification from a social media platform. Rico had posted a new photo, and Vivienne's heart skipped a beat as she saw his face staring back at her.
For a moment, Vivienne just sat there, frozen in time. She couldn't believe that Rico was back in her life, even if it was just a social media post.
But as she sat there, staring at the screen, Vivienne felt a sudden surge of emotions. She felt angry, she felt hurt, and she felt confused.
Why was Rico back in her life? What did he want from her? And why was she still feeling this way after all these years?
Vivienne's mind was racing with questions, but she knew she wouldn't find any answers by just sitting there. She needed to take action, to do something to get her mind off Rico and the past.
She got up from the couch and walked over to her bookshelf. She scanned the titles, looking for something that would distract her from her thoughts. Her eyes landed on a romance novel she had been meaning to read for weeks.
Vivienne sat back down on the couch, opening the book to the first page. She began to read, losing herself in the story of two people falling in love.
As she read, Vivienne felt her mind start to clear. She was no longer thinking about Rico, no longer wondering what he wanted from her. She was just living in the moment, enjoying the story unfolding before her eyes.
But as the hours passed, Vivienne's eyelids began to droop. She was getting tired, and she knew she needed to get some sleep.
She closed the book, setting it aside on the coffee table. She got up from the couch, stretching her arms over her head.
As she walked over to her bedroom, Vivienne felt a sense of peace wash over her. She was going to be okay, she was going to move on from Rico and the past.
But as she lay down in bed, Vivienne's mind began to wander again. She thought about Rico, about their past and their present. She wondered what he was doing now, if he was happy and fulfilled.
And as she drifted off to sleep, Vivienne couldn't shake off the feeling that Rico was still out there, waiting for her.