Benoftheweek

Tides of Change

As we drove away from the cabin, the mountains fading into the distance, a sudden thought crossed my mind, gnawing at the edges of my bliss. "Ben," I said hesitantly, "what do you think about making this a regular thing? You know, weekend getaways and stuff?"

He glanced over, a curious expression on his face. "Absolutely! I love that idea. But... what's got you worried?"

I bit my lip, unsure how to express the flutter of anxiety that had taken hold. "I just—what if we can't always find the time? What if life gets too busy, or we start drifting apart?"

He frowned slightly, his brow furrowing as he processed my words. "Naomi, we've already talked about making time for each other. I think if we prioritize it, we'll be fine."

"I know," I replied, feeling a bit defensive. "But what if it's not that simple? What if we start taking each other for granted?"

Ben sighed, his fingers tightening around the steering wheel. "Are you seriously worried about that? I thought we were on the same page about wanting to be together."

His tone was a bit sharper than I expected, and I felt a rush of heat. "I am! I just... I want to make sure we don't end up like some couples who lose touch. You know, the ones who just drift."

For a moment, there was silence, the only sound the hum of the tires on the road. I glanced at him, and I could see the gears turning in his mind. "Naomi, I'm not going anywhere. We're not those couples. We have something real."

I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. "I know you say that, but it just freaks me out sometimes. I can't help it."

He shifted in his seat, the tension in the air palpable. "Okay, I get it. But can we at least try to enjoy what we have without worrying about the future all the time? This weekend was amazing, and I want to focus on that."

I nodded slowly, realizing he had a point. "You're right. I'm sorry. I just want to protect what we have."

His expression softened, and he reached over to squeeze my hand. "We'll figure it out together. I promise."

As we continued driving, the tension eased, replaced by the comfort of his hand in mine. We shared some small talk, and I felt the earlier spark return, but there was still a lingering heaviness in my chest.

Later that evening, we stopped for dinner at a cozy diner. The flickering neon lights outside felt nostalgic, and as we settled into our booth, I felt a mix of excitement and unease.

When our food arrived, Ben dug in with enthusiasm, but I found myself picking at my meal, lost in thought. The conversation ebbed and flowed, but I couldn't shake the feeling that we had stumbled upon something deeper, something that needed to be addressed.

Halfway through the meal, Ben paused, wiping his mouth with a napkin. "What's really bothering you, Naomi? You've been quiet."

I hesitated, then decided to share the weight on my mind. "It's just... I don't want to end up regretting anything. I've seen how life can change in an instant, and I don't want to take us for granted."

He studied me for a moment, and then his expression shifted to one of understanding. "I get that. But can we agree to be open with each other? If something's bothering you, just tell me. I don't want you to feel like you have to carry this alone."

I smiled faintly, appreciating his concern. "Okay, deal. I promise to speak up more. I guess I just need reassurance sometimes."

He reached across the table, his hand warm over mine. "You have it. Always."

After dinner, we decided to take a stroll around the small town. The night air was crisp, and the streets were lined with twinkling lights. As we walked, I felt lighter, the earlier weight lifting a little more with each step.

But as we turned a corner, we stumbled upon a local art fair. Colorful booths displayed handmade crafts and paintings, and I could see Ben's eyes light up with curiosity. "Let's check it out!" he said, pulling me toward the vibrant displays.

We wandered from booth to booth, admiring the artwork and chatting with the vendors. At one stall, I picked up a small, intricately carved wooden figurine. "This is beautiful," I said, admiring the craftsmanship.

Ben leaned in, grinning. "You should get it. A little piece of our adventure."

As I handed over the cash, I felt a thrill of excitement at the thought of bringing a part of this trip home with me. But then, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a couple nearby, their laughter echoing in the air.

It was my ex, Mark, standing with a woman I didn't recognize. My stomach dropped. I froze, unsure of what to do. I didn't want to ruin the moment with Ben, but the sight of Mark stirred up old feelings I thought I had buried.

"Hey, are you okay?" Ben asked, noticing my change in demeanor.I forced a smile, trying to act natural. "Yeah, just... surprised to see someone I know."

Ben glanced over, and I could see the moment he recognized Mark too. "Do you want to say hi?"

I shook my head quickly. "No, it's fine. Really." But inside, I felt a mix of emotions swirling—awkwardness, embarrassment, and a hint of unresolved past.

Ben must have sensed my discomfort. "Alright, let's get out of here. We can go somewhere else."

As we walked away, I could feel my heart racing. I had hoped to leave that part of my life behind, yet here it was, crashing back into the present. Ben's hand was still holding mine, grounding me as we moved further away from the fair.

"I'm sorry," I finally said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't expect to see him."

Ben looked straight ahead, a flash of something unreadable in his eyes. "Are you okay? I mean, do you want to talk about it?"

I hesitated, weighing my words carefully. "It's just... I didn't want to drag any of that into this. It feels like we just had this amazing weekend, and now I'm overthinking everything again."

He stopped walking, turning to face me. "Naomi, it's okay. We can talk about it if you want. I want you to be comfortable."

I took a deep breath, feeling a mix of gratitude and uncertainty. "It's just... seeing him reminded me of some things I thought I had moved past. But I don't want it to overshadow what we have."

Ben nodded, his expression softening. "I understand. But remember, you're here with me now. This is what matters."

I smiled, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. "You're right. I just need to keep reminding myself of that."

As we resumed walking, I felt the earlier tension dissipate, replaced by a renewed sense of connection. The night was still young, and as we strolled hand in hand under the stars, I realized that while there would be bumps along the way, as long as we communicated and supported each other, we could navigate whatever came our way.