When Hearts Heal

Chapter 25

I couldn't stop thinking about our almost kiss. Or his words saying we would have a make-up date soon. I don't know why but for some reason in my mind a make-up date meant in the span of the next 24 hours. 48 at the least. But it has been almost three days since our date and all I have heard from him was a text reading having some problems at work, will let you know about that date soon.

A part of me wants to believe that's true. That he really might just be busy at work and that I should feel grateful he atleast explained his absence and silence instead of allowing me to assume the worst like I always do. But then there is the much bigger, more traumatised part of me that reminds me that usually that was Jared's code for I have more important things to do right now than talk to you.

I know I shouldn't compare them and I know I shouldn't assume the worst of Dominic. But I'm just starting to grow very fond of him, I would hate it if he ended up being just like Jared.

I paced around my apartment, unable to focus on anything else. My phone buzzed, and my heart leaped to my throat, but it was just a notification about some app update. I groaned, tossing it onto the couch. Why did I feel this way? Like I was waiting for something that might never come.

I grabbed my jacket and headed for the door. A walk might clear my head, or at least distract me from this never-ending spiral of doubt. The cool evening air hit my face as I stepped outside, but even that couldn't shake the gnawing uncertainty.

The thing is, it wasn't just about Dominic. It was about me, about how I had learned to expect the worst, to guard myself against disappointment. With Jared, the pattern had been clear. Promises were made and broken so easily, leaving me with only the echoes of his excuses. But Dominic? He wasn’t Jared.

Or was he?

I hated that my mind even went there. I wanted to trust him, to give him the benefit of the doubt. After all, he hadn’t done anything wrong, not really. And yet, I couldn't ignore that small voice in the back of my head whispering that maybe, just maybe, history was about to repeat itself.

I found myself standing at the park, the one across from where we first met. I looked at the bench where I'd sat when he first approached me. It was there that I had felt a connection I hadn’t felt in so long. But now, I wondered if I had imagined it all.

Sitting down, I took a deep breath, watching the sun dip below the horizon. I pulled out my phone, hovering over Dominic's name. Should I text him? Ask him if everything’s okay? Or would that make me look desperate?

No, I wasn’t going to chase him. If he wanted me, he'd make the effort, wouldn’t he? Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that maybe, just maybe, I was letting my past influence my present too much. But trusting someone after being burned so many times... that wasn’t easy.

Maybe the real question wasn’t whether Dominic would turn out to be like Jared, but whether I could give him a real chance without letting my fears ruin everything.

As I sat there, staring at my phone, I made a decision. I wasn’t going to let fear dictate my actions anymore. If Dominic wasn’t Jared, then I had to stop treating him like he was.

I unlocked my phone and quickly typed out a message before I could overthink it: Hey, just checking in. I know you’re busy, but I’d love to catch up whenever you’re free. Hope work’s going okay.

I hit send and immediately felt a rush of anxiety. Did that sound too casual? Too eager? But it was done, and I told myself it was better to be honest than to keep playing these mind games with myself.

I stood up from the bench, suddenly feeling lighter. If he replied, great. If not, I’d deal with that too. What mattered was that I didn’t sit around letting my insecurities fester.

As I walked back home, my phone buzzed. My heart jumped again, and this time, it wasn’t a random notification.

It was Dominic.

Hey, thanks for checking in. Sorry for the radio silence. Work’s been insane, but I’ve been thinking about you. Let’s plan something for this weekend? I really want to see you.

I stopped in my tracks, rereading the message, feeling the tension in my chest start to dissolve. He hadn’t forgotten me. He hadn’t flaked. Maybe I had been overthinking everything, letting old wounds cloud my judgment.

I’d love that, I replied, smiling to myself.

As I continued walking, I realized something important: trusting someone wasn’t about being certain they’d never hurt you. It was about giving them the chance not to. And for the first time in a long time, I felt like I was ready to take that chance.