SHATTERED HEART: Because every love story has an ending

Chapter 5: The Surprise Visit

A year had passed since Yuvan and Irish had gone their separate ways, but not a day went by when Yuvan didn’t think of her. The ache of her absence gnawed at him, each memory of their time together only deepening the void in his heart. He missed her laugh, the way her eyes lit up when she spoke about her dreams, and the comfort of her presence. Yuvan couldn't bear the distance any longer. With his heart full of hope and excitement, he decided to visit her in the UK, convinced that their bond had only grown stronger over time.

He planned everything meticulously, wanting to surprise her and witness the pure joy that would surely light up her face when she saw him at her doorstep. The thought alone filled him with warmth, anticipation building with each passing mile on his journey. He imagined the reunion in his mind—her gasp of surprise, the way she’d throw her arms around him, the unspoken promise that despite the distance, their connection remained unbreakable.

When he finally stood outside her door, his heart was pounding with excitement, nerves buzzing. He knocked, expecting Irish to answer, but instead, a tall figure appeared in the doorway. It was a man—Joseph. Confusion swept over Yuvan like a cold wave. Who was this? Why was he here? The seconds stretched painfully as Joseph hesitated, clearly unsure of who Yuvan was.

Yuvan’s mind raced, but before he could speak, Irish appeared, her face pale, her breath quick and shallow. Her heart pounded, not with joy as Yuvan had imagined, but with panic. In a rushed, almost careless introduction, she referred to him as just a classmate, here to help with a project.

Yuvan felt his heart falter, a strange discomfort settling in the pit of his stomach. A classmate? Her words felt off, as if there was something more, something she wasn’t saying. He wanted to question her, to make sense of the situation, but the depth of his trust in her silenced his doubts. **Trust**, he reminded himself. It was the foundation of their relationship. She wouldn’t hide anything from him, right?

He forced a smile, pushing aside the unease gnawing at him. But as he entered the house, that fragile trust wavered, casting a shadow over what should have been a moment of pure happiness. And deep down, in the quiet corners of his heart, he wondered—had the distance between them become more than just physical?