Far Yet Forever

Chapter 12

"Sometimes, the hardest goodbyes are the ones you never really say."

As I approached the café, a mix of nostalgia and anxiety swirled within me. This was it—my chance to confront the past, to seek closure, or perhaps to open old wounds. The door chimed as I entered, and I spotted him sitting at a corner table, looking just as I remembered but with a hint of vulnerability I hadn’t expected.

Moments from our past flashed through my mind—laughing together under the stars, spontaneous road trips, quiet moments that felt so right. I couldn’t help but smile at the memories, but as I got closer, the smiles faded, replaced by the ache of all the pain that had followed.

I hesitated before sitting down, my heart heavy with the knowledge of how much he had hurt me. The warm aroma of coffee surrounded me, but I couldn’t shake the chill in my heart. I took a sip, trying to ground myself, to find some semblance of calm.

“Hey,” he said softly, his voice carrying a weight that matched the atmosphere between us. “How have you been?”

“Okay,” I replied, my smile faltering. But the truth was, I wasn’t okay. I was still navigating the confusion of my feelings for Aarin, and the weight of that emotional turmoil lingered like a shadow.

He studied me for a moment, his eyes searching. “I’ve missed you,” he admitted, his tone sincere but laced with an underlying sadness.

“I’ve missed you too,” I said, the words escaping before I could filter them. But as I said them, I felt a pang of guilt thinking of Aarin waiting for my response.

“Things have been tough,” he continued, his vulnerability shining through. “I’ve messed up so much since we... since we ended. I wish I could go back and change everything.”

I felt a wave of empathy wash over me, a flicker of the kindness that had once drawn me to him. “I know things were hard for both of us,” I said, my voice softening. “But we had some good moments, didn’t we?”

He nodded, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Yeah, we did. I always think about the good times. But then I remember the hurt I caused you.”

I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat tightening. “It was hard for me too. You have no idea how much pain I went through.”

“I know,” he whispered, the weight of his regret hanging heavy in the air. “I’m sorry. I wish I could take it all back. I never wanted to hurt you.”

Suddenly, a smile broke through the sadness. “Remember that time we got lost on our way to the beach?” he asked, recalling the hilarity of our wrong turn that led us to an old diner instead.

My face lit up, and he chuckled. “Oh man, and do you remember the day we ended up having the worst pancakes of our lives! But it turned into one of the best days.”

We both laughed, the tension easing as we reminisced about our shared moments. Each story pulled us closer together, weaving warmth into the fabric of our conversation.

“Maybe we were just terrible at directions,” I joked, his eyes sparkling. He epeaks up, “But it feels good to laugh about it now.”

“Yeah,” I replied, feeling a sense of lightness. “It’s nice to remember the fun times, even if they came with a side of chaos.”

As we shared more laughs, I felt an unexpected warmth blooming in my chest. Why was I considering this? His words were sweet, and I found myself thinking, What if I gave him another chance? But a flicker of doubt crept in. Could we really return to what we once had?

Yet, as I looked into his eyes, I saw the same glimmer of hope I felt. Maybe there was room for something new between us, a chance to rebuild on the foundation we once shared, but this time with the lessons we had learned.

I couldn’t think straight anymore. As Arjun kept talking, sharing stories from his life and making me laugh like he used to, the memories of the hurt he caused seemed to blur. I was pulled into the warmth of his familiar voice, the way he could make me feel understood, like no one else could.

All the bitterness and pain felt distant now. Instead, I found myself indulging in the comfort of our conversation, letting go of the past, even for just a little while. Arjun talked about how he’d struggled with his studies, how music wasn’t going the way he’d hoped, and how he wished he could undo the mistakes he made.

I smiled, laughing at his jokes, forgetting the scars for a moment. I wasn’t asking him for a second chance, and I wasn’t ready to let him back in completely. But I wasn’t pushing him away either. Right now, in this small café, with his words filling the space between us, I allowed myself to enjoy the moment.

The past felt far away.......

After we finished our coffee, we walked out of the café together, pausing just outside. There was an awkward silence as we stood there, both unsure of what to say next. Arjun shifted his weight, nervously glancing at me while he shyly shuffled his feet.

“So… we should meet again sometime,” he said, his voice soft. “Text me when you get home, alright? Stay safe.”

I felt a strange mix of emotions but managed to smile. “Yeah, I will,” I answered.

He gave me a small nod, and for a moment, we just stood there, neither of us quite ready to leave. Finally, I turned to walk away, my mind spinning with everything that had just unfolded between us.