Silent Affection

Chapter 17: Old Wounds Resurface

Nora and Adrian’s rekindled romance flourished in the weeks that followed. They spent more time together, and the connection between them deepened. For the first time in a long while, Nora felt like she had found someone who understood her, someone she could see herself building a future with.

However, just as things were going well, old wounds resurfaced in an unexpected way. It all started one afternoon when Nora was scrolling through her social media feed. She paused when she saw a picture of Jake with a woman—his arm around her waist, both of them smiling. The caption read: "Starting fresh with someone who gets me."

Nora’s heart clenched involuntarily. She had been doing her best to move on from Jake, and for the most part, she had succeeded. But seeing him with someone new brought back memories of their relationship and the way it had ended. The pain of being unsure whether she had ever been his first choice lingered in her mind.

She immediately closed the app and set her phone aside, but her mood was already soured. She hadn’t thought about Jake in weeks, yet now she found herself questioning everything. Had she truly moved on, or had she just buried her feelings deep enough to ignore them?

That evening, Nora met up with Adrian for dinner. As they sat at their usual spot, a cozy bistro near the park, Adrian noticed the change in her mood.

“Hey, is everything okay?” he asked, reaching for her hand across the table.

Nora hesitated, unsure if she should bring up Jake. But she had promised herself to be honest with Adrian, especially after everything they had gone through to find each other again.

“I saw something today,” Nora began, her voice tentative. “Jake posted a picture with someone new. It just… caught me off guard.”

Adrian’s expression softened. “I get it. Seeing an ex move on can stir up old emotions, even if you’re happy with where you are now.”

“It’s not that I still have feelings for him,” Nora clarified quickly. “It’s just… it reminded me of how things ended between us. I never felt like I was his first choice, and I guess seeing him with someone else made me wonder if I was ever really enough for him.”

Adrian nodded thoughtfully, his grip on her hand tightening slightly. “I understand. It’s hard to let go of those doubts, especially when someone made you feel like you weren’t enough. But, Nora, you are enough. More than enough. And I’m not Jake—I’m here because I want to be, because I choose you.”

Nora smiled, grateful for Adrian’s reassurance, but a part of her still couldn’t shake the lingering doubts.

As the days passed, Nora found herself thinking more and more about her past with Jake. She didn’t regret ending things with him, but the insecurities he had stirred in her refused to go away. It began affecting her relationship with Adrian, though she didn’t want to admit it.

One evening, after a particularly long day at work, Nora met up with Kiomie and Theo for drinks. She hadn’t opened up to them about her recent feelings, but tonight, after a few drinks, the truth started to spill out.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” Nora said, frustration evident in her voice. “I’m happy with Adrian, but it’s like I can’t stop thinking about the past. Jake, how he made me feel, everything. It’s driving me crazy.”

Kiomie exchanged a glance with Theo before leaning forward. “Nora, it sounds like you haven’t fully healed from what happened with Jake. Maybe seeing him with someone else brought up unresolved feelings.”

Theo nodded in agreement. “You need to talk to Adrian about this before it starts affecting your relationship more. He’s understanding, but he deserves to know what’s going on in your head.”

Nora sighed, knowing they were right. She had tried to ignore her feelings, hoping they would disappear on their own, but it was clear that wasn’t happening.

The next day, Nora invited Adrian over to her apartment. They sat on the couch, and Nora knew she couldn’t avoid the conversation any longer.

“Adrian, there’s something I need to talk to you about,” she began, her heart pounding in her chest. “I’ve been thinking a lot about Jake lately—not because I still have feelings for him, but because of how he made me feel. I’ve realized that I haven’t fully healed from that relationship, and it’s been affecting me more than I thought.”

Adrian listened intently, his expression calm and understanding. “I appreciate you telling me, Nora. It’s okay to have doubts and insecurities, especially after going through something like that. But I want you to know that I’m here for you, and I’m not going anywhere.”

Nora’s eyes softened, relief washing over her. “I don’t want to let my past ruin what we have, but sometimes those old feelings come back, and it’s hard to push them away.”

Adrian gently took her hand in his. “I get it. Healing takes time, and you don’t have to rush it. But I want you to know that I’m all in, and I’m willing to work through this with you.”

Nora smiled, her heart feeling lighter. “Thank you, Adrian. I don’t want to lose you because of something that’s in the past.”

“You won’t,” Adrian reassured her. “We’ll face this together.”

As they sat together in comfortable silence, Nora realized that healing wasn’t a straight line. There would be bumps and moments of doubt, but with Adrian by her side, she knew she was on the right path.

For the first time, she felt like she was truly letting go of her past and embracing the future—one filled with love, understanding, and a new beginning with Adrian.