Whispers Of Yesterday

Chapter 57

"There are days when I feel lost in the confusion, but I remind myself that clarity will come with time."

Kieran and Sofia were all anyone could talk about at school, and I couldn't escape the constant reminders. Sofia, the daughter of a powerful figure, had always liked Kieran, and his parents had pressured him into the relationship. Knowing that Kieran had been suffering in silence, trying to protect me, was a heavy burden to bear. I had thought he moved on easily, but the truth was much more complicated.

In the midst of this, my growing bond with Liam came to a sudden halt. Our day out had been wonderful, but now I felt guilty for even considering a new relationship when my heart was still tangled with unresolved feelings for Kieran. Liam had been so understanding, yet I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being unfair to him.

Each day at school, seeing Kieran broke me a little more. The criticism he faced from our peers was relentless, and Sofia was nowhere to be found, leaving him to bear the brunt of it alone. My heart ached for him, but I felt powerless to help. One day, during lunch, I spotted Kieran sitting on our usual bench. His eyes met mine, and for a moment, he offered me a small, familiar smile. It stirred something deep within me, but the smile faded as he noticed Liam by my side. It was my turn to give him the awkward smile he had given me before, and it tore at my heartstrings.

The confusion was overwhelming. I had thought that moving on with Liam would be the right thing to do, but now I wasn't so sure. The acceptance letter lay on my desk, a constant reminder of the opportunity that awaited me, but the idea of leaving everything unresolved felt wrong.

Liam sensed my turmoil and tried to talk to me. "Maeve, I can tell something's bothering you. Please, talk to me."

I sighed, feeling the weight of my emotions. "It's just...everything with Kieran. Finding out about him and Sofia, it's thrown me off balance. I thought I was moving on, but now I'm not sure."

He looked at me with understanding, but there was a hint of hurt in his eyes. "I get it. It's a lot to process. But you can't let this hold you back, Maeve. You deserve to be happy."

"I know," I said, my voice trembling. "But seeing him every day, watching him suffer, breaks me. I thought he had moved on, but now I see he was hurting too."

Liam took a deep breath, his expression serious. "Do you still love him?"

The question hung in the air, heavy and unavoidable. I struggled to find the right words. "I don't know. I care about him, and a part of me always will. But I also care about you, Liam. It's just...confusing."

"I don't want to be your second choice," he said quietly. "I care about you too much for that."

Tears welled up in my eyes. "You're not my second choice, Liam. You've been amazing, and I hate that I'm putting you through this. But I need to figure things out."

He nodded, pain evident in his eyes. "Take all the time you need. But please, don't string me along if you're not sure."

The tension between us was palpable, and for the first time, I felt a rift forming in our bond. My feelings for Kieran, the confusion about the summer program, and the guilt of potentially hurting Liam were all too much to bear.

That evening, I found myself lost in thought, replaying every moment with Kieran in my mind. The way he used to comfort me during my nightmares, his soothing words, and the warmth of his embrace. Those memories were precious, but they also kept me tied to the past. I realized that I had been living in a state of limbo, unable to fully let go and move forward.

The next day at school, the whispers about Kieran and Sofia continued. I watched as Kieran faced it all with a stoic expression, but I could see the pain in his eyes. During lunch, I found him sitting alone on our bench again. I approached hesitantly, Liam trailing behind me.