Love at first sight

Love at first sight (Chapter 10)

# Chapter 10: Flashback

Leigh sat at his desk, the soft glow of the lamp casting shadows across the room. It had been a year since he and Alexander had left the city behind, seeking refuge in a quiet town far from their turbulent past. The wounds of their journey had begun to heal, but Leigh still found himself haunted by memories of their time together—the love, the pain, and everything in between.

As he stared out the window, lost in thought, a sudden gust of wind blew through the room, causing a stack of papers to flutter to the ground. Leigh sighed, bending down to pick them up. Among the papers was an old photograph, faded with time but still filled with memories.

It was a picture of him and Alexander, taken during happier times. They were standing by the river, the sun setting behind them, their smiles bright and carefree. Leigh traced his finger over Alexander’s face, a rush of emotions washing over him.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Leigh looked up to see Alexander standing in the doorway, a small smile on his face.

“Hey,” Alexander said softly. “I thought I heard you sigh.”

Leigh nodded, placing the photograph back on the desk. “I was just… thinking.”

Alexander walked over and sat down beside him, their shoulders brushing against each other. “About?”

Leigh hesitated for a moment before speaking. “About us. About everything that’s happened.”

Alexander nodded, his expression thoughtful. “It’s been quite a journey, hasn’t it?”

Leigh chuckled softly. “That’s one way to put it.”

They sat in silence for a while, the weight of their shared history hanging between them. Leigh knew that Alexander had been through so much, that his past as a member of a mafia gang had shaped who he was. But he also knew that Alexander was more than his mistakes, more than the darkness that had once consumed him.

“I found this,” Leigh said finally, pulling out the photograph from earlier and handing it to Alexander. “Do you remember?”

Alexander took the photograph in his hands, his gaze lingering on the image. “Yeah,” he said softly. “I remember.”

Leigh looked at him, his heart filled with longing. “Do you ever think about… everything we’ve been through?”

Alexander nodded, his eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and regret. “Every day, Leigh. Every day.”

Leigh took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. “I still don’t understand why you left, Alexander. Why you made me believe…”

“I thought I was protecting you,” Alexander admitted, his voice barely a whisper. “From my past, from the danger.”

Leigh shook his head, tears welling up in his eyes. “You should have trusted me, Alexander. Trusted that we could face whatever came our way, together.”

Alexander reached out, gently wiping away Leigh’s tears. “I know. And I’m sorry.”

They sat together in silence, the weight of their words hanging between them. Leigh wanted to believe that they could move past the pain and the heartache, that their love could withstand the trials they had faced. But he also knew that forgiveness was not something that could be rushed, that healing would take time.

“I love you, Leigh,” Alexander said softly, breaking the silence. “I always have, and I always will.”

Leigh closed his eyes, the warmth of Alexander’s touch comforting him. “I love you too, Alexander. But…”

“But we have to take things one step at a time,” Alexander finished for him, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

Leigh nodded, his heart heavy with longing. “Yeah. One step at a time.”

And so, hand in hand, Leigh and Alexander faced the uncertain future that lay ahead. They didn’t know what the journey would bring, but as long as they were together, they knew they could face it, one day at a time.

As they sat together in the quiet of their home, surrounded by memories of their past and hopes for their future, Leigh felt a sense of peace wash over him. No matter what happened next, he knew that Alexander would always be by his side, guiding him through the darkness and into the light.

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