Under the Stars

Chapter 37

~CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN~

  The applause was still echoing through the hall as Carl finished his performance and stepped off the stage. Lyla watched, her heart pounding, as he navigated his way through the crowd. She couldn't move, rooted to the spot by a whirlwind of emotions. When he finally reached her, he paused, their eyes locking once again.

“Lyla,” Carl said softly, his voice carrying a blend of hope and apprehension.

“Carl,” she responded, her voice barely above a whisper.

For a moment, neither of them moved. The years apart had been long and painful, but seeing him now, so close, brought back a flood of memories. Finally, Carl took a tentative step closer, his eyes searching hers.

“Can we talk somewhere private?” he asked, his tone gentle.

Lyla nodded, leading him towards a quiet corner of the hall where they could speak without interruption. They found an empty room, the sounds of the festival muffled behind the closed door. Once inside, an awkward silence settled between them.

“Lyla, I... I didn’t expect to see you here,” Carl began, running a hand through his hair. “But I’m glad I did.”

“I didn’t know you were performing,” she replied, her voice tinged with both surprise and uncertainty. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Carl sighed, leaning against the wall. “I didn’t know how to reach out to you after all this time. I was afraid... afraid you wouldn’t want to see me.”

Lyla looked down at her hands, her fingers fidgeting nervously. “I’ve missed you, Carl. But you left without a word. I never understood why.”

Carl’s expression softened, a mix of regret and sorrow in his eyes. “I know I hurt you, Lyla. And I’m so sorry. I thought leaving was the best thing for you, for both of us. I was dealing with so much, and I didn’t want to drag you down with me.”

“But you didn’t give me a choice,” she said, her voice cracking. “You just disappeared, and I had to pick up the pieces on my own.”

Carl stepped closer, reaching out to gently touch her arm. “I was wrong, Lyla. I know that now. I’ve spent every day since regretting my decision. I never stopped thinking about you, about us.”

Lyla looked up, her eyes meeting his. The raw emotion in his gaze mirrored her own feelings. “Why now, Carl? Why reach out now after all these years?”

“I’ve been trying to find the right moment, the right words,” he explained. “But there never seemed to be a perfect time. When I saw your name on the festival lineup, I knew I had to see you, to explain everything.”

“Explain?” she echoed, her voice filled with skepticism. “What’s there to explain?”

Carl took a deep breath, his eyes never leaving hers. “After my father died, I was lost. My family was falling apart, and I felt like I had to take care of everything. I thought leaving would protect you from the chaos in my life.”

“You didn’t have to protect me,” Lyla said, her voice softening. “I wanted to be there for you, to support you. But you didn’t let me.”

“I know,” Carl replied, his voice filled with regret. “I was young and stupid. I thought I was doing the right thing, but I see now how wrong I was. Can you ever forgive me?”

Lyla took a step back, her emotions swirling. She had dreamed of this moment, of Carl explaining his reasons and asking for forgiveness. But now that it was happening, she wasn’t sure what to feel.

“I don’t know, Carl,” she said honestly. “I’ve built a life without you. I’ve moved on, or at least tried to. Seeing you again has brought back so many memories, but it also brings back the pain.”

Carl’s expression was one of understanding and sadness. “I understand, Lyla. I don’t expect everything to be fixed overnight. I just... I want a chance to make things right, to be a part of your life again, if you’ll let me.”

Lyla’s eyes filled with tears. She had loved Carl deeply, and a part of her still did. But the wounds of his departure were still fresh, even after all these years.

“I need time,” she said finally. “Time to process everything, to figure out what I want. I can’t just jump back into the past.”

Carl nodded, his expression one of acceptance. “I’ll give you all the time you need, Lyla. I just hope, one day, you can find it in your heart to forgive me.”

They stood there in silence for a moment, the weight of their past hanging heavy between them. Finally, Lyla took a deep breath and wiped away her tears. “Thank you for being honest with me, Carl. It means a lot.”

“I’ll always be here for you, Lyla,” he said softly. “No matter what happens.”

“I use to believe that.” Lyla said looking at Carl

When Lyla told Carl that he felt like he was been hit.

“Lyla..”

“Let's just go back,” Lyla said avoiding his gaze

   With that, they left the room together, the noise of the festival welcoming them back into the present. As they walked, side by side, Lyla couldn’t help but feel a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, there was a chance for them to rebuild what they had lost.

As they reached the main hall, Carl turned to her once more. “Would you like to get some coffee sometime? No pressure, just... to talk.”

Lyla hesitated for a moment before nodding. “I’d like that.”

Carl smiled, a genuine, heartfelt smile that made her heart ache with nostalgia. “Great. I’ll call you, and we can set something up.”

As Carl walked away to mingle with the crowd, Lyla watched him go, her emotions a tangled mess of hope, fear, and longing. The road ahead was uncertain, but for the first time in years, she felt a sense of possibility.

She returned to her booth, the smile lingering on her lips. Maybe the past wasn’t as far behind as she thought. And maybe, just maybe, the future held the promise of healing and new beginnings.