𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞

Chapter 15: Crossing Paths

Fate had a funny way of working things out. Aanya and Meera had barely spoken since the breakup, both too afraid of what a conversation might lead to. But one afternoon, as Aanya was leaving her favorite café, she saw Meera standing across the street.

For a moment, Aanya froze. Her heart skipped a beat, and her stomach twisted with a mix of emotions—surprise, fear, longing. Meera hadn't seen her yet, and Aanya considered turning around, disappearing before Meera could spot her. But something stopped her.

Instead, Aanya stood there, watching Meera from a distance. She looked the same as always—confident, a little reckless, but with an undercurrent of vulnerability that Aanya had always found so captivating.

Before Aanya could make a decision, Meera turned and saw her. Their eyes locked from across the street, and in that moment, time seemed to stop.

Aanya's breath caught in her throat, and she could see the flicker of recognition, of something deeper, in Meera's eyes. For a long, agonizing moment, neither of them moved. It was as if they were both waiting, both trying to figure out if they should take the first step.

And then, slowly, Meera crossed the street.

"Hi," she said softly when she reached Aanya, her voice tentative, unsure.

"Hi," Aanya replied, her heart racing.

They stood there for a few seconds, the weight of everything between them heavy but unspoken. Aanya could feel the pull of her emotions—her longing for Meera, her fear of getting hurt again, her uncertainty about where they stood.

"I've been meaning to call you," Meera said, her voice quiet but sincere. "I know we haven't talked, and I know things didn't end well, but... I miss you, Aanya."

Aanya's chest tightened at Meera's words. She had dreamed of hearing them, but now that Meera was standing in front of her, she didn't know what to say.

"I miss you too," Aanya admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I don't know if things can go back to the way they were."

Meera nodded, her expression pained but understanding. "I know. I don't want to go back to what we were. I want to move forward... together. If you'll let me."

Aanya's heart pounded in her chest. She wanted to believe Meera, wanted to trust that they could make it work this time. But the fear of getting hurt again still lingered in the back of her mind.

"I don't know if I can do this again, Meera," Aanya said softly. "I'm scared."

Meera took a deep breath, her eyes filled with emotion. "I'm scared too. But I've realized that being without you scares me more. I don't want to keep running away from what we have."

Aanya felt a tear slip down her cheek, but this time, it wasn't from sadness. It was from the overwhelming feeling of relief, of hope.

For the first time in weeks, Aanya let herself believe that maybe, just maybe, they could find their way back to each other.