[Previously titled 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁𝘆 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲]
❝No, Ace. I can't do it," I sob.
"I know you can take more than that, sunshine, come on," he encourages, pummeling into me in fervent motions. "One more for daddy, yeah?" He coaxes in a gruffly voice...
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O L I V I A
As I stand there, silent tears start to fall. I can hardly believe my eyes as Ace turns to face me. It's really him—his blue eyes are just as intense as I remember, but they seem deeper now, like he's been through a lot.
His dark hair has streaks of silver, showing the weight of years. He looks older and more serious. His eyes soften when he sees me, showing a mix of old pain and something new.
Even though he looks different, his presence feels hauntingly familiar, like a part of me I thought I had lost. The sight of him hits me hard, bringing back memories and feelings I thought I had moved past. A sob escapes my lips, breaking the silence as tears blur my vision.
"Ace," I manage to whisper with a cracked voice, my throat tight. "I didn't think I'd ever see you again,"
His eyes lock onto mine as he takes a step closer.
"I didn't think I'd see you either," he says, his voice rough with emotion.
Tears stream down my face as I wipe them away with a trembling hand, struggling to hold myself together.
"Why are you here? I thought you were gone for good,"
Ace takes a shuddering breath and glances around the gallery, his eyes lingering on the art that surrounds us before meeting mine again.
"I didn't know how to find you. I saw your paintings and...I needed to see you," he admits, his expression pained and vulnerable and my hearts aches. "I've been following your work. I didn't realize it was you until tonight,"
His words hit me hard, and my sobs grow stronger, each one coming with more pain.
"I didn't think I'd miss you this much. I thought leaving would be the best for us. I thought I could move on, but seeing you here...it feels like everything I tried to bury is coming back," I murmur shakily and Ace's eyes soften with sadness and longing.
"I never wanted you to leave," he says, his voice trembling. "I've missed you more than I can express. I thought I could let you go, but I was wrong. I've been living with this regret, this emptiness,"
Tears stream down my face, my body shaking with the intensity of my emotions. He steps closer, his hand reaching out as if he wants to touch me but is afraid to.
"I thought I could move forward, but all I found was that I can't live without you," he confesses. "Seeing your work made me realize—I still love you. I wasn't sure until I saw your paintings, until I saw you again,"
The room seems to spin as my tears fall freely, my heart aching with a mix of pain and relief.
"I want to be a part of your life again, if you'll let me," he says quietly, his voice full of hope and desperation. "I don't know how to make up for lost time, but I want to try,"
