Reaching You, My Reneo

Chapter 8 - Shadows of Regret

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Days turned into weeks, and Thora’s regret grew with each passing moment. She had chosen distance, thinking it would protect her, keep her from the heartbreak she feared. But instead, the ache in her chest only intensified, a silent reminder of everything she had let slip away.

She saw him often, but he never sought her out again. Each time she caught a glimpse of him, she’d force herself to look away, telling herself it was for the best. But the hollow feeling in her chest only grew, each sighting a reminder of what they could have been.

And then there was her—the girl from the party. Thora didn’t know her name, but she seemed to always be at Reneo’s side, laughing, leaning in close, her hand brushing his arm in a way that made Thora’s stomach twist. She watched them from a distance, each interaction a fresh cut that deepened her regret.

One rainy afternoon, she found herself in the library, hidden in a quiet corner, staring blankly at her open notebook. The words blurred together, her thoughts far away. She knew she should focus, should keep herself distracted, but no matter how hard she tried, her mind kept drifting back to him.

Her heart clenched as the memories flooded in—his warm smile, his steady voice, the way he had looked at her that day in the café as if she was the only one in the room. She had thrown all of that away, and for what? To avoid getting hurt? Yet here she was, hurting more than she ever thought possible.

A loud laugh pulled her from her thoughts, and she glanced up instinctively, her breath catching. There he was, across the room, seated at a table with his friends. And beside him was her again, the girl leaning in close, laughing at something he had said.

Thora’s grip tightened on her pen, her heart sinking as she watched the scene unfold. Reneo looked so… happy. He was laughing, completely at ease, as if he hadn’t a care in the world. And the way he looked at that girl—it was familiar, too familiar. He looked at her the way he used to look at Thora.

Pain clawed at her chest, sharper than any she’d ever felt. She couldn’t keep watching this. She gathered her things, her hands shaking, and rushed out of the library, the tears she had been holding back finally spilling over.

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That evening, as she walked home alone, her mind raced, guilt and regret gnawing at her. She had done this to herself. She had pushed him away, convinced that she was sparing herself pain, only to find herself drowning in it now.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket, and she pulled it out, her heart skipping a beat when she saw Reneo’s name on the screen. For a moment, she froze, staring at the message. It was a simple text, just a question: “Hey, haven’t seen you in a while. Are you okay?”

She wanted to reply, to tell him everything, to pour out the feelings she had been bottling up for so long. But the image of him laughing with that girl flashed in her mind, and the words died in her throat. What if it was too late? What if he had already moved on?

Taking a shaky breath, she replied with a simple, “I’m fine, thanks,” knowing it was a lie, but not knowing what else to say.

His reply came almost instantly. “I miss you, Thora. Are we still friends?”

Her heart twisted painfully at his words. He missed her. But did he miss her the way she missed him? Or was it just a casual sentiment, a fleeting thought? She didn’t know, and the uncertainty made her fear her own response. Finally, after a long pause, she replied, “I don’t know.”

Her phone remained silent after that, and she wondered if she had finally pushed him too far, if she had severed the last thread that held them together.

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Over the next few days, Thora’s regret became an endless loop, her thoughts a blur of what-ifs and could-have-beens. She found herself lingering in places she knew he frequented, hoping for a chance encounter, for some sign that he still cared. But whenever she saw him, the girl was always there, laughing, smiling, completely at ease by his side.

One afternoon, unable to stand the sight any longer, Thora left the café abruptly and walked to the edge of campus, where the quiet was broken only by the rustling of leaves. She sank onto a bench, the cold seeping through her jacket, numbing her to everything but the ache in her heart.

She didn’t know how long she sat there, lost in thought, until she heard footsteps approaching. She looked up, her breath catching as Reneo stood before her, his hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable.

“Thora,” he said softly, taking a step closer. “Can we talk?”

She nodded, her throat tight, the words she had wanted to say for so long tangling in her mind. He sat down beside her, the silence between them heavy with everything left unsaid.

“I don’t get it,” he began, his voice low. “One day, we were… we were something, and the next, you vanished. I’ve tried to understand, tried to give you space, but I… I need to know. Why?”

She looked down at her hands, swallowing the lump in her throat. “I thought I was protecting myself,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “I was scared, Reneo. Scared of getting hurt, of letting myself feel something real.”

He looked at her, his gaze softening as he took in her words. “Thora… why didn’t you tell me?”

She took a shaky breath, fighting back tears. “Because… I thought it would be easier. I thought it would hurt less if I just… distanced myself. But I was wrong. It hurt more.”

Reneo’s expression softened, but there was a hint of sadness in his eyes. “I never wanted to hurt you, Thora. And I thought I was doing something wrong, that I was the reason you were avoiding me.”

She shook her head, the tears finally spilling over. “It wasn’t you. It was me. I just… I didn’t know how to let myself be close to someone.”

For a moment, there was silence, the weight of her words hanging between them. He reached out, his hand resting on hers, his touch warm and steady. “You don’t have to be scared, Thora. I’m here.”

The warmth of his hand was comforting, and for the first time in weeks, she felt a flicker of hope. She looked up, meeting his gaze, and saw the gentleness in his eyes, the kindness that had drawn her to him from the start.

But just as she started to feel a glimmer of relief, the girl from the library appeared, her footsteps echoing in the quiet. She stopped when she saw them, her eyes darting between Thora and Reneo, a look of surprise on her face.

Reneo hesitated, glancing back at the girl, then at Thora. And in that moment, Thora realized that while he might still care, he had a life that didn’t revolve around her. He had connections, friendships, maybe even feelings that she couldn’t expect to change overnight.

He stood, his hand slipping from hers. “We’ll talk soon, okay?” he said softly, a hint of sadness in his eyes. He gave her one last look before walking away, joining the girl as they disappeared down the path together.

Thora watched him go, the ache in her chest returning tenfold. She had taken a step toward him, but it might have been too late. And now, all she had left was the haunting image of him walking away, a reminder of the chance she had let slip through her fingers.

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