[First Draft] Unresolved (New Chapters Daily)

Part Seven

As I slide into the back seat of the taxi, the door closing with a soft thud, the tears that I'd been holding back finally begin to spill over. I wipe at them furiously, but they keep coming, blurring my vision, making it impossible to hold onto any shred of composure. No matter what I say or do, I can't seem to escape myself. The past always finds me, like a shadow I can't outrun. For years, I had missed him. Craved him. I'd let the thought of Robin consume me—allowing the mystery of his disappearance to drive me mad. I tore myself apart, trying to figure out where he'd gone, why he'd left without a word. I let his absence become a ghost that haunted every relationship, every decision I made. And now, after all this time, he's back. Not as the memory I'd built up, but as something far worse: real. Present. Here.

 
I rest my forehead against the cool window, staring out into the night as the city blurs by, but my thoughts are stuck on him, the chaos he continues to bring into my life. He destroyed me, and somehow, he still manages to wreak havoc on everything I try to build. Just when I think I'm finally moving on, he turns up. Like tonight. Why now? Why here?
How long had he been watching us at Jack's? I shudder, thinking of him lurking in the shadows, studying me, waiting for the perfect moment to show up and ruin everything once again. I feel so helpless, stuck in a cycle I can't break free from. No matter how far I run, no matter how many times I try to start over, Robin always finds a way to drag me back into the wreckage we created together. I wonder if I'll ever be free from him—or from the person I was when we were together. I take a moment to reflect on tonight's events. Had I lost Cole completely? God I hope not, I take my phone out to call him and it rings before going straight to voicemail. I call again, straight to voicemail. I want to throw my phone out of the window as the frustration inside me builds up. It has since started raining and the screech of the window wipers is almost hypnotic as I zone out in silence.

It wasn't long before we turned the corner onto my street, the familiar sight of my apartment building pulling me out of my spiraling thoughts. The taxi's headlights cut through the sheets of rain, casting long shadows across the road. That's when I saw it— a hooded figure standing outside the entrance, hunched over, trying to shield themselves from the downpour. The beam of the headlights caught his face for a brief moment, and my heart sank. Him. I felt my chest tighten, my pulse quickening as reality crashed down. I threw open the door of the taxi before it had even come to a full stop and stumbled out into the rain. "What the hell are you doing here?" I shouted, my voice barely cutting through the sound of the rain hammering against the pavement. The cold droplets hit my face, stinging my eyes as I squinted, raising a hand to shield them and get a clearer look at him. He stood there, his posture tense, like he'd been waiting for this moment, for me. "Are you serious right now?" I yelled again, frustration boiling up inside me, mixing with the dread that had been gnawing at me all night. Why now? Why here? The weight of the evening, everything with Cole, and now this— it was too much.

The taxi driver honked impatiently behind me, pulling me out of my panic for a moment. I turned around, fumbling for my purse, only to realise with a sinking feeling that I had left it behind at Jack's. Of course. Perfect. I sighed, feeling the tension between my shoulders knot tighter. As I prepared to deal with yet another problem, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching.

"Here," Robin said, his voice soft, as if the rain was the only thing loud enough to drown out the storm between us. He handed the driver some money, his fingers brushing mine for the briefest second. The driver groaned, shaking his head as he snatched the cash, clearly eager to get away from whatever drama was about to unfold. The taxi sped off, the red taillights disappearing into the night, leaving just the two of us standing there, soaked and silent.
I let out a frustrated, almost bitter laugh, throwing my arms up in exasperation. The rain clung to my clothes; my wet hair plastered against my face. "What are you doing here, Rob?" I asked again, but this time my voice was quieter, almost defeated. The anger was still there, simmering beneath the surface, but I was too tired to fight it. Too tired to fight him. My entire body felt heavy, the exhaustion of the night settling deep into my bones.
He didn't answer right away, and for a moment, I saw something flash in his eyes—regret, maybe? But that thought only made me angrier. He had no right to show up like this, no right to make me feel anything after everything he'd done.

I took a step back, crossing my arms, my heart racing beneath my soaked jacket. "Why are you here, Robin?" I repeated, but this time it wasn't a question. It was a challenge. An accusation. Why couldn't you just leave me alone?
The rain came down harder, drenching me as I stood frozen in front of him. The streetlights reflected off the wet pavement, and the distant hum of the city seemed to fade into nothing but the sound of the rain and my heartbeat thudding in my ears. He stood just inches away, his eyes desperate, filled with the same intensity that used to make me fall for him. But now it only made me feel trapped.
"I wanted to hear you say it," he said, his voice softer, yet more insistent as he closed the distance between us. The rain poured down over his hood, the water dripping from the tip of his nose, soaking through his jacket. "Without your boyfriend there. Just you and me."