Healing echos

Chapter six

his smile quickly faded as he looked up at Ray and Sun, and recognition dawned on his face.

It was the woman from the club. Sand stood there, paralyzed, not knowing what to say next.

"It's nice to meet you, Sand," Sun said, extending her hand with a professional smile.

Sand forced himself to move, shaking her hand while trying to mask his shock. "Nice to meet you too, Sun."

Ray glanced between them, sensing the underlying tension. "You two really know each other, huh?"

Sun nodded, maintaining her professional demeanor. "Yes, we've crossed paths before. But let's keep things focused on your recovery, Ray."

Ray nodded, though curiosity lingered in his eyes. "Alright. I'm just glad to have your help, Sun."

"Thank you, Ray. I'll see you tomorrow for our next session," Sun said, giving him a warm smile before turning to leave the room.

As the door closed behind her, Sand took a deep breath, trying to gather his thoughts. Ray looked at him, concern evident on his face. "Sand, is everything okay?"

Sand quickly put a smile back on his face. "Yup, everything is fine!" he said, but Ray could sense something was up. The connection between Sand and Sun seemed much deeper than he initially thought.

Ray changed the subject. "Mew should be almost here. I invited him to come eat lunch with us."

Sand rolled his eyes. "The more the merrier," he said in a sarcastic tone.

Ray noticed the sarcasm and decided to push a bit. "Sand, if there's something going on, you can tell me. I can handle it."

Sand sighed, his forced smile faltering. "Ray, it's just... complicated. I promise I'll explain everything, but let's get through lunch first, okay?"

Ray nodded, though he was more curious than ever. "Alright. We'll talk later."

Just then, the door opened, and Mew walked in with a bright smile. "Hey, Ray! Hey, Sand! Hope I'm not too late."

"Perfect timing," Ray said, trying to lighten the mood. "We were just about to order lunch."

Sand managed a genuine smile for Mew. "Yeah, glad you could make it."

As they sat down to eat, the atmosphere was a mix of forced cheerfulness and underlying tension. Ray kept stealing glances at Sand, who was doing his best to act normal, but Ray could tell his mind was elsewhere.

"So, how's the therapy going, Ray?" Mew asked, trying to steer the conversation to a lighter topic.

"It's going well," Ray said, deciding to focus on the positive for now. "Sun, my therapist, is really good. I've already started feeling stronger."

Mew nodded enthusiastically. "That's great to hear! You'll be back on your feet in no time."

Sand chimed in, trying to sound upbeat. "Yeah, Ray's been making great progress. I'm really proud of him."

Ray smiled, appreciating the support from both of them. "Thanks, guys. I couldn't do it without you."

They continued their meal, the conversation flowing more easily as they discussed lighter topics. But in the back of Ray's mind, questions about Sand and Sun lingered, waiting for the right moment to resurface.

As lunch came to an end and Mew prepared to leave, he gave Ray a hug. "Hang in there, Ray. You're doing great."

"Thanks, Mew. I'll see you soon," Ray replied, feeling grateful for his friend's encouragement.

Once Mew was gone, Ray turned to Sand. "Okay, now that we're alone, can you please tell me what's going on between you and Sun?"

Sand sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Ray, Sun and I have a complicated history. We were more than just friends, and seeing her again brought back a lot of memories—some good, some bad."

———————

Sun was considered Sand's first love. They dated all throughout high school and into university. Their relationship wasn't perfect, but Sun held a special spot in Sand's heart for all those years.

As a freshman in high school, Sand spent the entire year trying to build up the courage to talk to Sun, but she was always with another guy, and he never got the chance. By sophomore year, they were paired up for a project, and he finally had an opportunity to get her alone. "My name is Sand," he said, sticking out his hand, which was trembling. She giggled at the sight of the nervous boy. "I'm Sun. It's nice to meet you," she said, giving a warm smile that made Sand's heart flutter.

Late in their freshman year, Sand finally asked Sun out, and she said yes. From then on, they were practically inseparable, spending every moment together except when they were in class.

Most of Sand's memories with Sun were filled with the dates they went on. They would visit theme parks, get matching headbands, and take photos in photobooths, capturing their happy moments together.

However, by the time they reached university, their relationship began to turn rocky. They found themselves arguing more and more, slowly becoming distant from one another. The pressures of university life, coupled with their growing differences, created a rift that neither could bridge.

One particularly vivid memory stood out to Sand. It was during a heated argument in their junior year of university. They were in Sun's dorm room, and the tension was palpable.

"I don't understand why you're always so distant now," Sun had said, tears in her eyes.

"It's not that I want to be distant," Sand replied, frustration in his voice. "I'm just overwhelmed with everything—school, work, us. It's a lot to handle."

Sun shook her head, wiping away a tear. "We used to handle everything together. What happened to that?"

Sand sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know, Sun. Maybe we've just grown apart."

That conversation marked the beginning of the end for them. They tried to make it work for a few more months, but the arguments continued, and the love they once had seemed to fade away. Eventually, they broke up, each going their separate ways.

Now, seeing Sun again after all these years, especially in the context of Ray's recovery, brought back a flood of memories for Sand. It was a lot to process, but he knew he had to stay focused on what mattered most: helping Ray recover.

Ray, sensing Sand's turmoil, reached out to him. "Sand, you can talk to me about it. I can tell this is affecting you."

Sand looked at Ray, appreciating his concern. "It's just a lot of old memories, Ray. Sun and I were together for a long time, and seeing her again brings all of that back. But I promise, I'm here for you. You're my priority now."

Ray nodded, understanding the depth of Sand's feelings. "I trust you, Sand. Just know that I'm here for you too, okay?"

Sand smiled, grateful for Ray's support. "Thank you, Ray.."