I had some help

Eight

●2018●

Alex, after work, do you think you can come over for dinner?

Hey Caleigh, yeah, I should be able to.

As Alex meticulously organized documents, there came a gentle knock on her office door. Startled from her concentration, Alex glanced up momentarily, her brow furrowing in curiosity. "Come in!" She called out, her voice carrying a note of welcome.

The door creaked open, and someone entered, their footsteps soft against the carpeted floor. Alex continued to focus on the papers in her lap, assuming it was a colleague or an assistant coming in for a quick query or update. "Have a seat." She said casually, still not lifting her gaze.

When she finally looked up, however, her breath caught in her throat. Sitting across from her, his expression a mix of apprehension and familiarity, was Morgan.

A mix of emotions washed over Alex, a blend of surprise, uncertainty, and a hint of longing. She hadn't expected to see Morgan again so soon after their meeting earlier in the day. Her heart raced slightly as she wondered what had brought him here, into her office, at this hour.

"Morgan," She finally managed to say, her voice soft yet tinged with curiosity. She set aside the files on her lap, giving him her full attention. "What brings you here?" She asked, her eyes searching his face for answers.

Morgan shifted slightly in his seat, his gaze meeting hers. "I... I wanted to talk." He began, his voice hesitant yet determined.

Despite the years that had passed, Morgan's presence stirred up memories and feelings she thought she had buried long ago.

"I'm glad you're here." She finally said, her voice gentle yet sincere. She gestured towards the chair opposite hers, inviting him to continue. "Let's talk." Alex said moving from her chair to sitting on her desk.

Morgan took a deep breath, looking relieved to hear her say those words. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "I've been doing a lot of thinking." He began, his eyes locking onto hers. Alex interrupted him, making the same joke she's made since they were kids, "Uh oh." She said making them both laugh at the memory. Morgan shook his head, continuing. "About us, about what happened back then, and about what I want now."

Alex listened intently, her heart pounding. She could see the vulnerability in his eyes, the raw emotion that he was trying to convey. "I've realized that I never really got over you." Morgan continued, his voice barely above a whisper. "I've been writing songs about you, thinking about you... And seeing you again last year and not really staying in touch, I've been thinking a lot."

Alex's breath hitched as she absorbed his words. She had always wondered if Morgan felt the same way she did, if he had missed her as much as she had missed him but sadly, she's past that. "Morgan," She began, her voice trembling slightly, "I... I've thought about you a lot too. But things are different now. I'm with Bailey, and I-"

Morgan held up a hand, stopping her mid-sentence. "I know, Alex. I know you're with someone else, and I respect that. I just needed to tell you how I feel. To be honest with you, even if it's too late."

Alex felt a tear escape her eye, quickly wiping it away. "Thank you for being honest," She said softly. "It means a lot to me. But I need to be honest too. Part of me will always care about you, but I need to move forward with my life. With Bailey."

Morgan nodded, a sad smile on his lips. "I understand, Alex. I just... I needed you to know. And I hope we can still work together, be friends at least."

Alex smiled back, reaching to take his hand. "We can, Morgan. We can definitely be friends. And who knows what the future holds?"

They sat there for a moment, holding hands, the past and present converging in a single, poignant moment of understanding. The clock on the wall ticked on, but for Alex and Morgan, it felt like time had stopped just for them.