𝑪𝑯𝑬𝑴𝑰𝑺𝑻𝑹𝒀 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑯𝑬𝑨𝑹𝑻𝑩𝑬𝑨𝑻𝑺, Sheldon Cooper

21 | An Understanding and a Cry

★

Third Person POV
Y/N was in utter disbelief that her mother was with Mr. Lundy. The mere thought of it made her stomach churn with a sickening feeling. As she tried to process this, her mind kept drifting back to her encounter with Sheldon at the carnival. It was a whirlwind of emotions, when he hugged her, every fiber of her being wanted to push him away and run, but at the same time, there was a warmth and comfort in his embrace that she hadn't felt in days.

Walking to MeeMaw's house, she felt a storm of emotions brewing inside her. The sight of the Coopers' house made her heart ache with guilt for leaving so abruptly, without any explanation. She knew she had acted out of hurt, but the pain of seeing her mother with someone else was too overwhelming.

The girl approached MeeMaw's house, her heart racing as she rang the doorbell. It wasn't long before the door creaked open. "Y/N? What are you doing here?" MeeMaw asked, her voice laced with surprise. "Hi MeeMaw, I need to talk to—" Y/N began, but her words caught in her throat as she noticed her ex-boyfriend standing behind MeeMaw, his eyes soft yet filled with sadness.

"Ugh," Y/N groaned, rushing off the porch as her head began to pound with frustration. "Y/N, please wait," he called out, but she continued down the sidewalk, hugging herself tightly as her ears rang with the sound of his voice. "Y/N... I love you. Please don't leave," he pleaded.

Y/N's heart felt like it was being squeezed in a vice as she heard Sheldon's words. The pounding in her head grew more intense, and her vision blurred with unshed tears. She wanted to keep walking, to escape the emotional turmoil that his presence stirred within her, but her legs felt like they were made of lead.

A mix of anger, sadness, and confusion swirled inside her. She had been trying so hard to move on, to forget the pain of their breakup, but hearing him say he loved her brought all those buried emotions rushing back to the surface. Her chest tightened, and she found it hard to breathe.

Part of her wanted to turn around, to run back into his arms and let the comfort of his embrace wash away her pain. But another part of her was terrified of getting hurt again, of reopening wounds that had barely begun to heal. She stood there, frozen in the middle of the sidewalk, torn between the past and the future, unsure of which path to take.

Y/N took a deep breath, feeling the weight of Sheldon's words settle into her heart. She turned around slowly, her eyes locking onto his. The sadness in his gaze mirrored her own, and for a moment, they stood there, both vulnerable and exposed.

With hesitant steps, Y/N walked back toward the porch, her emotions a tangled mess. "Sheldon," she began, her voice quivering, "You hurt me so much. And what about Paige?" She paused, searching his face for any sign of deceit but saw only genuine remorse.

Sheldon took a step forward, his eyes pleading. He looked down at her, gently reaching out to cup her cheek. "I promise you, nothing happened with Paige. I won't be seeing her ever again." Y/N's mind raced as she weighed his words. She felt a flicker of hope amidst her pain, a tiny spark that refused to be extinguished. She stepped closer to him, resting her forehead on his chest as a tear fell, unnoticed. He grasped her chin, lifting it to meet his gaze. "I never stopped loving you," he said softly, making her stomach twist in that unfamiliar way.

"I miss you, my lady," Sheldon said, making her smile despite the sadness in her eyes. She didn't know how to feel but allowed him to embrace her. "Did you know that hugging someone releases oxytocin, which is often called the 'love hormone'? It can make you feel closer to the person you're hugging." Sheldon said before they let go, she stared into his light blue eyes, her favorite thing about him, and said, "I just need time." She flared her nostrils, trying to hide her emotions, knowing deep down that she missed him too. She was just trying to protect herself. Y/N gently let go of his hand before walking down the sidewalk. Sheldon's heart yearned for Y/N, but he tried to understand her feelings as he watched her walk away.

୧ ‧₊˚ 🍵 ⋅

"There you are, Y/N!" Y/N stops halfway down the street at the sound of her mother's voice calling her name. "Mom?" she says, turning around slowly to see her mom sprinting towards her, out of breath. "Y/N, please allow me to explain," her mom says, placing a hand on her shoulder. Y/N feels a mix of confusion and frustration bubbling up inside her. She didn't know how to feel about her theater teacher being a part of her life outside of school. The boundaries between her personal life and school life felt blurred and uncomfortable. "Mom, I don't want to—"

"He makes me happy, Y/N. Don't you know what that feels like?" Her mother's words hit Y/N with a sudden realization. Y/N's heart races, and she feels a pang of guilt for her initial reaction. She turns her head towards her mother, looking confused but also contemplative. "I... Yes." Memories flood her mind, moments with Sheldon that made her feel like she was on top of the world. She remembers his quirky jokes, the way he always knew how to cheer her up, and the warmth of his hugs. Those memories bring a soft smile to her face, and she begins to understand her mother's perspective.

Y/N takes a deep breath, feeling the tension ease a bit. "I do know what that feels like, Mom," she says softly, her voice filled with a mix of understanding and acceptance. A tear slips down her flushed cheek before she hugs her mom tightly. "I'm sorry, Mom. I just want you to be happy. Like I was..." Y/N says, glancing over at Sheldon and sighing. "Thank you, sweetheart," her mom replies, her voice filled with gratitude. Y/N begins to feel emotions she wishes she didn't, like her heart still belonged to Sheldon. It felt like he was all she ever wanted, but she knew she shouldn't feel that way. She was afraid. Why would anyone not want to be with their person?

an: hey pooks this story may come to a close soon. but fret not, i will continue writing on this acc maybe with different characters. just lmk :) love you <3