Echoes of Yesterday
The scent of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the faint hum of chatter as Adrian pushed open the glass door of Willow Creek's only café, The Morning Roast. He stepped inside, the warmth of the place a stark contrast to the chilly autumn air outside. The café hadn't changed in the ten years he'd been gone. The same mismatched furniture, the same bulletin board cluttered with community announcements, and even the same bell that jingled softly as the door closed behind him.
"Adrian Kane."
The familiar voice made him pause mid-step. He turned to see a wiry man behind the counter, wiping his hands on a faded apron. Luke. The man who had once been his best friend, and the only person who hadn't given up on inviting him back to town over the years.
"Well, I'll be damned," Luke said, his grin wide and genuine as he walked around the counter. "Look what the wind blew in."
Adrian forced a smile. "Hey, Luke."
Luke pulled him into a quick, brotherly hug, slapping his back with enthusiasm. "It's good to see you, man. I didn't think you'd actually show your face here again."
"Yeah, well, life has a way of throwing curveballs," Adrian replied, his tone guarded.
Luke's grin faded slightly as he stepped back, studying Adrian's face. "You okay?"
"Just… adjusting." Adrian waved off the concern and glanced at the menu overhead. "How about a coffee?"
Luke smirked. "Coming right up. Black, no sugar, right?"
Adrian nodded, surprised that Luke still remembered. He took a seat near the window, his eyes scanning the familiar scene outside. The street was quiet, dotted with a few locals going about their day. A young couple walked by hand-in-hand, their laughter drifting faintly through the glass. It reminded him of a time when he and Sophia had walked this same street, their future full of possibilities.
"Here you go." Luke placed the steaming cup of coffee in front of him and slid into the seat opposite. "So, are you back for good, or is this just a quick visit?"
Adrian hesitated. "Not sure yet. Depends on how things go."
Luke raised an eyebrow. "You mean with the house? Or with Sophia?"
The directness caught Adrian off guard, and he frowned. "Sophia and I… That was a long time ago, Luke."
"Yeah, but long doesn't mean over," Luke said, leaning back in his chair. "She's not the same girl you left behind, you know. She's been through her own stuff."
Adrian looked away, his jaw tightening. "I didn't come back for her."
"Didn't you?"
The question hung in the air, and Adrian had no answer.
---
Later that afternoon, Adrian found himself at the Willow Creek Cemetery. The sky was overcast, casting a somber gray light over the rows of headstones. He stood before his father's grave, the fresh mound of earth a stark reminder of the man he had lost.
The silence was deafening. Adrian shoved his hands into his coat pockets, unsure of what to say. Apologies seemed meaningless now, but the weight of his absence pressed heavily on his chest.
"I guess I screwed up," he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. "I should've been here more. Should've…" He trailed off, his throat tightening.
The sound of footsteps on the gravel path made him turn. Sophia stood a few feet away, her hands clasped in front of her. She wore a dark coat, her auburn hair pulled back in a loose bun.
"Mind if I join you?" she asked softly.
Adrian nodded, stepping aside as she approached. She placed a small bouquet of lavender on the grave and stood in silence for a moment before speaking. "He was proud of you, you know. He talked about you all the time."
Adrian exhaled sharply. "That doesn't make it any better. I wasn't here when it mattered."
Sophia turned to him, her gaze steady. "We all make choices, Adrian. Some we regret, some we don't. But beating yourself up over the past won't change it."
Her words struck a nerve, and he looked away. "It's not that simple."
"It never is," she replied, her voice tinged with understanding.
They stood in silence for a while, the weight of their shared history hanging between them. Finally, Sophia broke the silence. "Why did you leave, Adrian? Really?"
The question caught him off guard, and he struggled to find the right words. "I thought I was doing the right thing. For both of us."
Sophia frowned. "And now?"
"Now…" He hesitated, meeting her gaze. "Now I'm not so sure."
Her eyes softened, but there was a guardedness in her expression. "I have to go," she said after a moment. "But… maybe we can talk later. Really talk."
Adrian nodded. "Yeah. I'd like that."
As she walked away, Adrian watched her figure grow smaller in the distance. The ache in his chest was familiar, but this time, it wasn't just regret. It was hope.
For the first time in a decade, Adrian felt a flicker of something he hadn't allowed himself to feel in years—a longing to make things right. But as he turned back to his father's grave, he knew it wouldn't be easy. Rebuilding bridges was never simple, especially when they had been burned so completely.
And yet, standing there amidst the quiet rows of headstones, Adrian made a silent vow to himself: if there was even a chance to find where his heart truly belonged, he wouldn't let it slip away again.