All That's Left

Chapter 28 | Vania

Present

2023

Seventeen years old

A week and a half had passed since everything between Dorian and me had shifted. In the days that followed, things had been...better. Much better than they had been in a long time. I felt like I was starting to heal, like I was finally finding my way back to myself after years of being lost in the chaos of my emotions, the mistakes, and the heartbreak.

The awkwardness between me and the Lowe's wasn't gone completely, but it was better. And for now, that was enough.

My relationship with Dorian had also begun to mend. We both agreed that we needed to rebuild our friendship first before we jumped into anything more. It wasn't easy; things were different between us, and I knew they would never be exactly the same as before. We'd been through too much-too many secrets, too much pain-for things to go back to what they were. But that was okay. Change wasn't always a bad thing. People evolved, and so did relationships. What mattered was that we were both trying.

As I stood in front of the bathroom mirror, trying to decide whether my hair looked better up or down, I couldn't help but feel a flutter of nerves. Dorian had asked me out on a date tonight. It was a simple, sweet gesture-a first step toward whatever was between us-and even though I had known him my entire life, the idea of going out with him this way made my heart race.

This wasn't just hanging out as friends anymore. It wasn't the casual familiarity we'd shared for years. It was something new, something fragile, and the thought of it both excited and terrified me. What if things didn't work out? What if, after all of this, we realized we weren't meant to be anything more than friends?

I shook my head, trying to push those thoughts away. Overthinking things wouldn't help. Besides, Dorian had made it clear that he wanted this as much as I did. He had told me how he felt-how he had always felt-and for the first time in a long time, I felt like I could trust that. He loved me, and I loved him. We just needed to take it one step at a time.

I glanced at the clock. It was almost time for Dorian to pick me up, and I still wasn't sure what to wear. It was funny, really, how I'd never been this anxious about what he thought of me before. Growing up, we had spent so much time together, whether I was in pajamas, covered in dirt from playing outside, or wearing whatever ridiculous outfit Dad had bought me. None of that had ever mattered.

But now...I wanted to look good for him. I wanted him to see me in a new light, as more than just his best friend. I settled on a simple dress, something I could still move around in but that felt a little more special than my usual jeans and t-shirt.

As I put the finishing touches on my makeup-nothing too much, just enough to feel a little more confident-I caught my reflection in the mirror and paused. My nerves were still there, but there was something else too: hope.

For the first time in years, I felt hopeful about the future. I didn't know where this path with Dorian would lead, but I knew it was one I wanted to be on, no matter the challenges.

I grabbed my bag and took one last look at myself before heading downstairs. My heart was pounding in my chest, a mix of excitement and anxiety swirling inside me. As much as I was nervous, I knew that Dorian and I were in this together. We had been through so much, and yet here we were, still standing, still choosing each other.

And that, more than anything, gave me the courage to keep moving forward.

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