Sophia leaned against the window of her apartment, her fingers gently tracing the edges of the glass as she watched the city lights twinkle far below. It was a crisp, quiet evening, but inside her, a storm was brewing. The events of the previous night kept replaying in her mind, each moment of the unexpected encounter with Adrian bringing both excitement and unease. She hadn't expected to see him again, let alone have such an intense conversation after all these years. And yet, here she was—feeling like a part of her past was waking up, and she wasn't sure how to handle it.
She had to admit, seeing Adrian had stirred something in her she hadn't felt in years: hope. His smile, the genuine warmth in his eyes—it was as if time hadn't changed him at all. And for a moment, Sophia felt like she could leave the ghosts of her past behind and just focus on the present, on the possibility of something new. But then, like a wave crashing over her, memories of Ethan came rushing back.
Ethan.
Sophia closed her eyes, leaning her head back against the cool surface of the window. She hadn't thought about him in years, not like this—not with the same heaviness that came with the memories of their time together. She had spent years convincing herself that she had moved on, that she had healed from the wounds he left behind. But Adrian's return had forced her to face the truth she had been avoiding: the scars Ethan had left were still there. They weren't visible, but they were deep, lingering beneath the surface, ready to bleed if she wasn't careful.
The relationship with Ethan had been everything she had ever wanted when they first met. She had been young, full of hope and dreams for the future, and Ethan had swept her off her feet with his charm and promises of forever. Their relationship had seemed perfect, a whirlwind of passion and excitement. But somewhere along the way, the truth had shifted. Ethan had changed. He had become distant, careless, and for the first time in their relationship, she had felt completely invisible. The late nights, the secretive behavior, and the endless excuses—they had all pointed to one painful truth: Ethan had fallen out of love. But she had refused to see it, clinging to the belief that love could overcome everything.
It wasn't until that night—the night of their graduation—that she had realized how wrong she had been. Walking into that room, full of hope and excitement about the future, only to find Ethan in the arms of another woman—it shattered her. The betrayal hit her like a tidal wave. She had felt foolish, heartbroken, and above all, alone. That was when she knew, deep down, that their relationship was over. Ethan had been the one to break her heart, but it was her choice to never trust him again.
Sophia's thoughts were interrupted by the soft buzz of her phone on the table beside her. She glanced at the screen, seeing Maya's name flash across it. A small smile tugged at Sophia's lips. Maya had been her best friend through it all—through the pain, the heartbreak, and the victories. Maya knew her better than anyone, and Sophia often turned to her for comfort when her emotions felt too overwhelming to deal with on her own.
Sophia picked up the phone and answered. "Hey, Maya."
"Finally! You've been avoiding me, since yesterday night" Maya's voice teased through the phone. "I was starting to wonder if I'd have to come over and drag you out of hiding."
Sophia chuckled, leaning back against the couch as she stared out at the city. "Sorry, I've just been...thinking a lot."
"Well, what else is new? But wait don't tell me you forgot your dinner with Adrain?" Maya said, the lightheartedness of her tone obvious. "Come on, what's going on?"
"Okay, wait Let's pretend I know nothing." Maya said.
Sophia took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "It's about last night. The gala. I ran into Adrian."
Maya was quiet for a moment. "Adrian? The guy from the accident, right?"
Sophia nodded even though Maya couldn't see her. "Yeah, him. It was completely unexpected. He recognized me immediately, and we talked. He actually asked me out to dinner."
Maya's response was a burst of energy. "Wait—what? Adrian asked you out? The Adrian who you helped after the car accident? The Adrian who vanished off the face of the earth for five years?"
Sophia laughed softly at her friend's enthusiasm. "Yes, that Adrian. He's back in town, and... well, I agreed to dinner. And stop pretending you know nothing of what I'm saying."
Maya let out an exaggerated gasp. "No way! Sophia, this is huge! I can't believe you said yes. Tell me everything." " C'mon don't ruin the fun, go ahead."
Sophia's laughter faded, replaced with a more solemn tone. "It's not that simple, Maya. Seeing him again—it brought back so many things. Not just about Adrian, but about... everything. About Ethan."
"Ethan?" Maya's voice was softer now, sensing the shift in her friend's mood. "Soph, I know you've been carrying that weight for a long time, but this is different. Adrian is different. He's not like Ethan. He's not going to hurt you."
Sophia's chest tightened. "I don't know, Maya. After everything with Ethan, I don't know if I can trust anyone again. Adrian seems like a good person, but what if I'm just setting myself up for disappointment? What if... what if I fall for him, and he betrays me like Ethan did?"
There was a long pause on the other end of the line, and when Maya spoke again, her voice was firm yet kind. "Sophia, you can't keep letting Ethan hold you back. He hurt you, yes. But you've healed. You've rebuilt your life from the ground up. You're a successful architect now, you've made amazing friends, and you've proven to yourself that you don't need anyone to complete you. You're whole on your own."
Sophia's throat tightened as Maya's words sank in. It was the truth. She had spent years building a life she was proud of, despite what Ethan had done. "I know you're right. But it's hard, Maya. It's hard to just forget everything that happened. To open myself up again."
"You don't have to forget, Soph," Maya said gently. "But you do have to let go. Don't let your past with Ethan dictate your future. Adrian doesn't deserve to be held accountable for someone else's mistakes. He deserves a fair shot. And so do you."
Sophia took a deep breath, staring at her reflection in the dark window. She could see the walls she had carefully built around herself—the ones that had kept her safe from getting hurt again. But were they really keeping her safe, or were they just keeping her from living?
"You're right," Sophia said, her voice steadier now. "I can't keep living in the past. I need to let go of what happened with Ethan and give myself a chance to see where this goes with Adrian."
"That's all I'm asking for, Soph. Take it one step at a time. Dinner with Adrian doesn't have to be anything more than that. Just... let yourself enjoy it."
Sophia smiled, feeling lighter than she had in days. "Thanks, Maya. You always know how to make me see things clearly."
"I know. It's one of my many talents," Maya teased. "Now, go get some rest. And don't stress. Dinner with Adrian will be just fine."
"I'll try," Sophia said, a small laugh escaping her lips. "I'll try."
After they hung up, Sophia sat in silence for a few moments, letting Maya's words echo in her mind. The thought of moving forward, of opening herself up to something new, still felt like a risk. But for the first time in a long while, it didn't feel like an impossible one. She had spent so much of her life trying to protect herself from the pain of the past, but maybe it was time to take a chance.
Sophia stood up, walking over to the mirror. She looked at herself, searching her reflection. She was more than just the woman who had loved Ethan. She was strong, capable, and ready for whatever came next. The scars from the past were still there, but they didn't define her. And neither would the fear of getting hurt again.
Dinner with Adrian was just the beginning. And maybe, just maybe, it was a step toward something good.