The Time Weaver

Part 20 - The Time We Missed

Eric's POV:

I lay beside Hazel, my thoughts drifting back to the years we had spent circling each other, always close but never quite together. As I watched her sleep peacefully beside me, a rush of emotions flooded his mind—regret, longing, and an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the present moment.

I couldn't help but replay the missed opportunities in his mind—the times we could have confessed our feelings, solve the misunderstandings, and most importantly I could have opened up her about my situations? She would have helped me, she would find the lost me. But I hesitated. I find it best to push things away. I thought pushing away from me, would help her, but it ruined her. I ruined her.  How many times had we wanted to reach out, to bridge the gap that seemed to grow smaller and larger in turns?

"We missed so much," I whispered softly to himself, my voice barely audible in the quiet of the room. I brushed a strand of hair away from Hazel's face, she stirred slightly, a small smile playing on her lips, and my heart swelled with affection.

I thought back to their first meeting, back in the crowded lecture hall where our eyes had locked for just a moment too long. The sparks were there, undeniable and yet unacknowledged. I remembered the nights spent together studying, the coffee breaks that stretched into hours of conversation, each one hinting at something more, something deeper.

"Why did it take us so long?" I wondered aloud, his gaze lingering on Hazel's peaceful features. I recalled the times when fear and uncertainty had hold me back, the fear of risking of losing what we already had. But now, lying beside her, I knew those fears were unfounded. Our bond was stronger than he had ever imagined.

I traced the contours of Hazel's face with my fingertips, committing every detail to memory. "Maybe we needed this time," I mused quietly. "To grow, to understand ourselves better, to appreciate what we have now."

As I looked at her, a wave of gratitude washed over me. Despite the missed chances and the moments of hesitation, we had found our way to each other. Our journey had been a series of twists and turns, but somehow, they had arrived at this place—a place where our love could flourish without boundaries or regrets.

I leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to Hazel's forehead, savoring the sweetness of the moment. Her presence beside me filled him with a sense of peace and completeness I had never known before. I had missed so much, but now we had everything they needed.

"I love you," I whispered, the words a solemn vow spoken to the sleeping woman who had captured my heart. I would cherish every moment with her, making up for all the lost time with a lifetime of love and devotion.

With that promise in my heart, I closed his eyes, content in the knowledge that our future together was as bright and beautiful as the dawn breaking outside their window.