The months following her breakup with Adrian felt like an unending wave of emotions for Nora. Some days were easier than other days where work consumed her and she barely had time to think about him. But then there were nights when memories of their laughter, shared dreams, and the tenderness of his touch would flood her mind, leaving her clutching her pillow as though it could stop the ache in her chest.
Her friends had rallied around her after the breakup. Ada, her closest confidante, had been particularly steadfast, coaxing her out of her apartment on weekends and making sure she didn't drown in solitude.
One Saturday evening, Ada dragged Nora to an art exhibition in the heart of Lagos.
"You need to get out of your head," Ada had insisted. "Art has a way of soothing the soul, and you, my dear, need a lot of soothing."
Nora had reluctantly agreed, and as she wandered through the gallery, she found herself drawn to a particular painting. It was of a lone figure standing on a cliff, the ocean stretching endlessly before them. The figure seemed small, yet resolute, as though they were on the brink of something transformative.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" a voice said from beside her.
Nora turned to see an older woman with kind eyes and a warm smile.
"It is," Nora agreed. "There's something hopeful about it."
The woman nodded. "Hope is what keeps us moving forward, even when it feels like the world is pulling us back."
The words lingered with Nora long after she left the gallery. Perhaps hope was what she needed to embrace.
A week later, Nora was sitting in her office when her phone buzzed with a message from Adrian. It was the first time she'd heard from him since their painful conversation.
Adrian: "Hey. I know this is out of the blue, but I've been thinking about you. Can we talk?"
Her heart raced as she stared at the screen. Part of her wanted to ignore the message, to guard herself against reopening old wounds. But another part of her, an undeniable part, wanted to hear his voice.
After a long moment, she replied.
Nora: "Sure. Let me know when."
That evening, they spoke for the first time in months. Adrian's voice was warm, yet hesitant, as though he wasn't sure how to bridge the gap that had formed between them.
"I'm sorry," he said after a few minutes of small talk. "For everything. For letting the distance get the better of me. For not fighting harder."
Nora closed her eyes, the pain of their separation still fresh. "I'm sorry too," she said softly. "But I don't think either of us knew how to handle it."
They talked for hours, sharing their struggles, their regrets, and their lingering feelings for each other. By the end of the conversation, it was clear that neither of them had truly let go.
"I don't know what the future holds," Adrian said. "But I know I still care about you, Nora. A lot."
Her heart ached at his words, torn between hope and fear. "I care about you too, Adrian. But we can't go back to the way things were. If we're going to try again, we need to do it differently."
"I agree," he said. "Let's take things slow. No pressure, no expectations. Just us."
And so, they began to rebuild.
Reconnecting with Adrian wasn't easy. The distance was still there, but this time, they approached it with more intention. They scheduled regular calls, shared updates about their lives, and even began planning a visit.
Adrian's tour had been a success, and he was in talks with a record label about signing a contract. Meanwhile, Nora's career was flourishing, with her latest project earning her recognition within her company.
Despite their busy schedules, they made time for each other. And slowly, the walls that had grown between them began to crumble.
One evening, Adrian surprised her with a video call.
"I have something to show you," he said, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
He turned his camera to reveal a room filled with music equipment microphones, guitars, and a small keyboard.
"This is my new studio," he said proudly. "I've been working on it for weeks."
"It's amazing," Nora said, smiling. "You must be so excited."
"I am," Adrian said. "But there's one thing missing."
"What's that?"
"You," he said, his voice soft. "I want you to be here with me, Nora. Not just for a visit, but for real."
Her breath caught at his words. "Adrian…"
"I know it's a lot to ask," he continued. "But I've been thinking about it for a while. I want us to build a life together, Nora. I don't want distance to define us anymore."
Tears filled her eyes as she considered his words. She had always dreamed of a future with Adrian, but the thought of uprooting her life was daunting.
"Can I think about it?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"Of course," he said. "Take all the time you need."
In the days that followed, Nora wrestled with the decision. She loved Adrian deeply, but moving to Johannesburg meant leaving behind everything she had built in Lagos her career, her friends, and the city that had shaped her.
She confided in Ada, who listened patiently.
"You have to do what feels right for you," Ada said. "But if you love him, and you see a future with him, then maybe it's worth leaping."
Nora thought about Ada's words long after their conversation. Was she willing to take the risk for a chance at happiness with Adrian?
A few weeks later, Nora found herself standing at the airport, her suitcase by her side.
Adrian had flown to Lagos to help her with the move. As they waited for their flight, he reached for her hand.
"Are you sure about this?" he asked, his eyes searching hers.
She nodded, a mixture of nerves and excitement coursing through her. "I'm sure."
As they boarded the plane, Nora felt a sense of both loss and possibility. She was leaving behind the familiar for the unknown, but she was doing it with Adrian by her side.
And for the first time in a long time, she felt hopeful about the future.