I will love you from afar

Chapter 7

Sam stormed out of the venue, her emotions a whirlwind of anger, confusion, and heartbreak. She couldn't believe it—after all these years, Alex had just shown up out of nowhere, stirring up feelings she had buried long ago. It was too much, too overwhelming. She needed to get away, to breathe, to process everything that had just happened.

As she reached the parking lot, she fumbled with her car keys, her hands shaking with the intensity of her emotions. But before she could get into her car, she heard footsteps behind her. She turned sharply to see Alex hurrying after her, desperation in her eyes.

"Sam, wait!" Alex called out, her voice pleading. "Please, just let me explain. I can't let things end like this—not again."

But Sam was too hurt, too angry to listen. "Explain?" she snapped, her voice trembling with fury. "What's there to explain, Alex? You left me without a word. You vanished from my life like I didn't matter, like our friendship meant nothing to you. And now, you think you can just show up and make it all better?"

Alex took a step closer, her eyes filled with regret and sorrow. "I know I hurt you, Sam. I know I made a terrible mistake. But please, give me a chance to make it right. I don't want to lose you again."

But Sam was beyond reasoning. The pain of the past ten years, the confusion, the self-doubt—it all came crashing down on her in that moment. Before she even realized what she was doing, she raised her hand and slapped Alex across the face, the sound echoing in the empty parking lot.

The force of the slap was hard, and Alex staggered back, shocked and hurt—not just physically, but emotionally as well. She felt tears prick at her eyes, but she didn't move, didn't retreat. She knew she deserved Sam's anger, deserved every bit of it.

Sam's hand trembled as she lowered it, her breath coming in ragged gasps. The slap had been impulsive, driven by the overwhelming tide of emotions she was feeling. But as she saw the pain in Alex's eyes, the guilt began to creep in, mixing with her anger.

"Why did you do it, Alex?" Sam demanded, her voice breaking. "Why didn't you at least say goodbye? I needed you, and you just... left."

Alex, still reeling from the slap, looked at Sam with tears in her eyes. "I was a coward, Sam," she admitted, her voice raw with emotion. "I was young and scared, and I didn't know how to deal with everything that was happening. Leaving without saying goodbye was the worst thing I could have done, and I've regretted it every day since."

She took a shaky breath, stepping closer to Sam. "I know I don't deserve your forgiveness, but I'm asking for a chance—a chance to make things right, even if it takes time. I've missed you every single day, and I'm so sorry for the pain I caused. I can't change the past, but I want to be here for you now, if you'll let me."

Sam looked at Alex, her heart torn between the anger she still felt and the deep, buried love she had always had for her best friend. She didn't know if she could forgive Alex—not yet—but she also knew that the connection they shared wasn't something she could easily walk away from.

For a moment, they stood there in the parking lot, the weight of their shared history pressing down on them. Finally, Sam took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside her.

"I don't know if I can forgive you, Alex," Sam said quietly, her voice filled with the pain of the years they'd lost. "But maybe... maybe we can try to figure this out. It won't be easy, and it won't happen overnight, but... I don't want to hate you, either."

Alex nodded, her heart aching with the realization of just how much she had hurt the person she cared about the most. "Thank you, Sam," she whispered. "I'm here, whatever you need, whenever you're ready. I'm not going anywhere this time."