Chapter 8: A Glimpse of the Past
As the night wore on, Ava and Liam found themselves lost in conversation. They talked about everything and nothing, laughing and joking like they had known each other for years.
But as the conversation turned to their pasts, Ava noticed that Liam's demeanor changed. He became more guarded, more reserved.
"What's wrong?" Ava asked, sensing that something was off.
Liam sighed, his eyes dropping down to the ground. "I just...I don't like talking about my past," he said. "It's not a happy story."
Ava's heart went out to him. She could see the pain in his eyes, the weight of his secrets.
"I'm sorry," she said softly. "I didn't mean to pry."
Liam looked up at her, his eyes searching hers. "You're not prying," he said. "I just...I don't know if I'm ready to talk about it yet."
Ava nodded, feeling a sense of understanding wash over her. "I get it," she said. "Sometimes the past can be a heavy burden to carry."
Liam's eyes locked onto hers, and for a moment, Ava saw a glimmer of hope there. Maybe, just maybe, Liam was starting to open up to her.
As they stood there, the tension between them was palpable. Ava could feel the weight of Liam's secrets, the pain of his past.
And she knew that she wanted to help him heal. She wanted to be the one he turned to, the one he trusted with his secrets.