Chapter 07

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“When you find someone who makes you question everything you thought you knew about love, you know you’ve found something real.”


Aarin’s POV

I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off with her today. We’d been talking for weeks now, and even though we hadn’t met in person, I’d gotten to know her pretty well—or at least, well enough to notice when her usual energy was missing. It wasn’t the way she usually texted, and I could tell something was weighing on her.

I messaged her, hoping she’d open up, but when she replied with a vague “I’m okay,” I knew she wasn’t telling me everything. Still, I didn’t want to push too hard. I wanted her to feel comfortable enough to share when she was ready.

A few minutes later, she finally texted again. And when I read her words—My ex texted me this morning... and I unblocked him—I didn’t know what to think at first. It wasn’t jealousy or anger that hit me, just... concern.

I knew how much she had been hurt before. She’d told me bits and pieces of her past, how long it had taken her to get over him. And now, here he was, trying to walk back into her life. Part of me wanted to tell her to block him again and never look back, but I also knew it wasn’t that simple.

I took a breath, thinking carefully about what to say.

How do you feel about it? I asked. It seemed like the most important question. It wasn’t about him; it was about her, about how she was handling this.

When she responded, admitting how confused she felt, my heart went out to her. I knew what it was like to feel pulled between the past and the present, to question what the right thing to do was.

I get that, I typed. It’s not easy when the past comes knocking. But whatever happens, just be careful, okay? Don’t let it mess with your peace.

I hoped she understood what I meant. It wasn’t my place to tell her what to do, but I didn’t want her to get hurt again, especially by someone who had already caused her so much pain. I cared about her, more than I had expected to, and all I wanted was for her to be okay.

When she replied, thanking me, I could sense a shift. Maybe it wasn’t much, but at least she knew I was here, that I wasn’t going to judge her or walk away just because things were complicated. That was the thing about connection—it wasn’t always easy, but sometimes, just being there was enough. And for her, I was willing to do that.

As I lay in bed that night, the dim light of my phone screen was the only thing illuminating the room. I kept replaying our conversation from earlier. The way she had opened up to me, the vulnerability she shared—it had an impact on me that I hadn’t expected.

It wasn’t just about the comfort I felt when talking to her or the way she made me smile. It was more than that. Her honesty, her struggles, and even the small moments of joy we shared—they were starting to mean something deeper to me.

I had always been cautious with feelings, keeping them at arm's length, especially when it came to relationships. But something about her was different. The way she trusted me, even with her insecurities and fears, made me question everything I thought I knew about myself. I found myself thinking about her, worrying about her, and wanting to be there for her in ways I hadn’t felt before.

Is this what love feels like? It’s not something I had considered seriously before. I’ve heard people talk about it—about how it creeps up on you and takes hold in the most unexpected ways. But now, as I lay here, thinking about her, I can’t help but wonder if this is it.

Every time we talk, every moment we share, it feels like I’m learning more about her—and, in turn, more about myself. It’s a strange, exhilarating feeling, and I can’t deny that I want to keep exploring it. I want to be there for her, support her, and share more of these moments together.

Maybe it’s too soon to call it love, but whatever this is, it feels real and important. I just hope she feels the same way, and that we can navigate these feelings together. For now, all I know is that I’m willing to take that leap, to see where this connection takes us.

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