The Shadows Within

Chapter 29

               Few months Later

**Shameka's POV**

I sat on the couch, staring blankly at the TV as the days blended together. It had been months since Dantae's funeral, and I was still struggling to come to terms with his loss.

Alexander and Ashley had been good to me, but I knew they were all still grieving in their own ways. We would have moments where we would all just sit there in silence, lost in our own thoughts.

I had started going to therapy, trying to work through my guilt and anger. It was hard, but slowly, I was starting to feel like myself again.

One day, as I was getting ready for a therapy session, I received a call from an unknown number. My heart skipped a beat as I answered it.

"Hey, Shameka," a familiar voice said on the other end. "It's Matt. I know it's been a while, but I was wondering if you wanted to grab coffee with me sometime?"

I was taken aback. Matt and I had never really talked much before Dantae's death, but he had always been kind to me.

"Sure," I said hesitantly. "When were you thinking?"

"How about tomorrow?" he replied.

I agreed, and we made plans.

As I hung up the phone, I felt a spark of hope ignite inside me. Maybe, just maybe, this was the start of something new.

**Matt's POV**

I sat across from Shameka at the coffee shop, feeling nervous. It had been a while since we'd talked one-on-one, and I wasn't sure what to expect.

But as she smiled at me, something clicked into place. We chatted easily about everything and nothing, and for the first time in months, I felt like myself again.

As we parted ways after our coffee date, I realized that maybe this was what we all needed - a chance to move on from our grief and find happiness again.

**Ashley's POV**

I watched Shameka and Matt walk out of the coffee shop together, feeling a mix of emotions. Part of me was happy to see Shameka finally starting to heal, but another part of me was worried about what this new development might mean for our group.

We had all been through so much together, and I didn't want anything to change that bond. But as I watched Matt and Shameka laughing and chatting together, I knew that sometimes change is necessary for growth.

And who knows? Maybe this new development would bring us even closer together in the end.

**Alexander's POV**

I sat on the couch, feeling a sense of unease as I watched Matt and Shameka's budding relationship unfold. I had grown close to both of them over the years, but this new development made me realize how much my feelings for Shameka had grown over time.

I didn't know what the future held, but one thing was certain - our group would never be the same again. And maybe that wasn't a bad thing.

As we all sat there together in silence, I knew that we would face whatever came next side by side.

*To Be Continued...*