The Time Weaver

Part 13 - A Leap of Faith in Us

Eric's POV:

As I sat across from Hazel in the quiet corner of our favorite spot, the weight of my past struggles bore down on me like an insurmountable burden. She looked at me with concern, her eyes searching mine for answers that I struggled to articulate.

"Hazel, there's something I need to tell you," I began, my voice barely above a whisper. "I haven't been doing well for a long time."

Her brow furrowed in concern. "What do you mean?"

I took a deep breath, steeling myself to revisit the painful memories I had buried deep within myself. "It started with an injury. I was playing football, and... and I hurt my knee. Badly enough that I couldn't play anymore."

Understanding dawned in Hanna's eyes as she connected the dots. "That's when you stopped... when you stopped being yourself."

I nodded slowly, feeling the weight of unspoken grief settling over me. "And then... our parents divorced. It hit me harder than I thought it would. And shortly after that, Dad..." I paused, my throat constricting with the painful memory. "Dad passed away."

Hazel reached out, placing her hand over mine in silent support. "Eric..."

Tears welled up in my eyes as I continued, each word heavier than the last. "I... I couldn't cope, Hanna. I spiraled into a deep depression. I pushed everyone away, including you. I shut myself off from everything and everyone. I forgot... I forgot that I had a life with you, that I had someone who loved me unconditionally."

Hanna squeezed my hand gently, her eyes filled with empathy and understanding. "Eric, I... I didn't know it was that bad. I wish you had talked to me."

"I know," I murmured, my voice thick with regret. "I'm sorry, Hanna. I'm so sorry for shutting you out, for not being there when you needed me."

She shook her head softly. "You don't need to apologize, Eric. I understand now."

"But you were there, weren't you?" I asked softly, looking into her eyes for confirmation. "Through all those difficult times, you were there for me."

Hanna nodded, a sad smile tugging at her lips. "I tried to be. But you kept pushing me away. You wanted to be alone with your pain."

"I didn't know myself back then," I admitted, feeling a sense of catharsis in finally voicing the truth. "I was lost in my own darkness, unable to see anything beyond my own suffering."

Silence hung between us for a moment, heavy with unspoken regrets and missed opportunities. Then, Hanna spoke softly, her voice tinged with compassion. "Eric, you don't have to carry this burden alone anymore. We can work through this together."

I nodded slowly, feeling a flicker of hope ignite within me. "I want to, Hanna. I want to find my way back to you, to us."

She smiled gently, her eyes shimmering with tears. "We'll take it one step at a time."

And as we sat there, hands intertwined, I felt a glimmer of optimism for the first time in years. With Hanna by my side, I knew that healing was possible, that I could rediscover the person I had lost in the depths of despair. Together, we would navigate the complexities of our shared past and forge a path towards a brighter future, one filled with love, understanding, and renewed hope.