Who Are You (ON HOLD)

Chapter twenty two

**(Zade's perspective)**

The flight was a blur of emotion and exhaustion. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Hezlin's face, heard her voice, felt her touch. It was like a wound that refused to heal, constantly aching and raw. By the time we landed in California, I was a shell of myself, drained and numb.

Liam tried to keep the mood light as we settled into our new apartment. He cracked jokes, talked about our plans, and did his best to distract me. But nothing could fill the void left by Hezlin.

Days turned into weeks, and the initial shock of leaving began to wear off, replaced by a dull, persistent ache. I threw myself into my studies, trying to lose myself in work and keep my mind off Hezlin. But no matter how busy I kept myself, she was always there, a ghost haunting my every thought.

One evening, as we sat in our living room, Liam brought up a subject I had been avoiding. "Zade, have you thought about reaching out to Hezlin? Just to see how she's doing?"

I shook my head, my heart constricting at the thought. "Nooo, Liam. I can't. She needs space, and so do I. It wouldn't be fair to either of usss."

Since that day, I decided not to ever call or disturb Hezlin, even though it hurt me like hell. The thought of her, alone and possibly struggling, gnawed at me constantly. Every fiber of my being wanted to reach out, to hear her voice, to tell her I loved her, but I knew I had to respect her wishes. Liam was there, a steady presence, offering support in his own way. He knew I was hurting, but he never pushed me to talk about it. Instead, he was just there, a silent reminder that I wasn't alone.

Months passed, each day a test of my resolve. I focused on my studies, pouring my energy into my degree. The pain of missing Hezlin never went away, but I learned to live with it, to carry it as a part of me. Liam and I grew closer, our friendship deepening with every passing time...

Every now and then, I would catch a glimpse of something that reminded me of Hezlin-a scent, a song, a fleeting memory. Each time, it was like a knife to the heart, but I endured it, holding on to the hope that one day, she might find her way back to me.

In the meantime, I focused on becoming the best version of myself, on building a future that, maybe one day, Hezlin could be a part of. And though the distance and silence between us were painful, I knew it was what she needed. So, I honored her wishes, no matter how much it hurt, believing that love, if true, would find its way back in time.
One particularly restless evening, Liam suggested we go to the beach. "Come on, Zade. A change of scenery might do you some good. The ocean can be really calming."

I hesitated. Beaches had never been my favorite. The endless stretch of sand, the vast expanse of water-it always made me feel exposed and vulnerable. But Liam was right; I needed a change of scenery.

"Alright," I agreed reluctantly. "Let's go to the beach."