Written In The Stars

Chapter 5: Echoes of the Past

Lucas had hoped that his evening with Emma would linger in his mind as a bright moment, a new beginning. But just days after that magical night, his phone buzzed to life with an unexpected message. The familiar name appeared on the screen—Vivian.

He hadn’t thought about her much since she left for her job abroad. Their breakup had been amicable enough; they had both known that a long-distance relationship was impractical. But now, reading her message, he felt a swirl of emotions he hadn’t expected.

“Hey Lucas, I’m back in town. Can we meet up?”

He debated whether to respond. Part of him wanted to ignore it, to focus on what was blossoming with Emma. But curiosity nagged at him—what could Vivian possibly want after all this time? He typed a quick reply.

“Sure. When and where?”

As they set a time to meet, Lucas couldn’t shake the feeling that their encounter would stir up memories best left buried. Still, he couldn’t resist the pull of nostalgia or the unresolved feelings that clung to their history.

When the day arrived, he found himself walking to their usual café, the one they’d frequented during their relationship. It had an airy feel, with large windows that overlooked a bustling street and shelves lined with books. He arrived early, taking a seat by the window, trying to collect his thoughts as the familiar scent of coffee wafted around him.

Moments later, Vivian appeared, her vibrant presence filling the room as she stepped through the door. She wore a fitted dress that accentuated her figure and her hair cascaded around her shoulders, much as he remembered. She spotted him and waved, a smile breaking across her face. It was the same smile that had drawn him in all those years ago, and he felt a mix of excitement and unease as she approached.

“Lucas!” she exclaimed, sliding into the seat across from him. “It’s so good to see you again.”

“Yeah, you too,” he replied, forcing a smile. “How was the job abroad?”

“It was incredible! I traveled all over Europe, but it didn’t feel complete without sharing it with someone,” she said, her gaze lingering on him. “That’s why I’m back. I realized I really miss what we had.”

Lucas raised an eyebrow, surprised by her directness. “You do?”

Vivian leaned closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone. “I know we ended things on good terms, but I’ve had time to think. I still care about you, Lucas. I want to see if we can work things out.”

He felt his heart race with conflicting emotions. Memories of their time together—happy moments, shared laughter, the way they understood each other—flooded back. But he also thought of Emma, their connection, the way she had made him feel in just a few short encounters.

“Vivian, I… it’s complicated,” he said carefully. “I’ve been seeing someone.”

Vivian’s expression faltered, surprise flashing across her face. “Someone? Really? I didn’t think you’d be the type to jump into something so quickly.”

“It’s not like that,” Lucas said, trying to clarify. “Her name is Emma. She’s a writer, and we just had this incredible evening together.”

Vivian’s smile faded, and a look of calculation crossed her features. “A writer? I should have guessed. You always did have a thing for creative types. But what makes her different from me?”

Lucas hesitated, considering her question. “It’s not just about being a writer. It’s the way we connect. There’s this spark, you know? With Emma, it feels… real. I haven’t felt this way in a long time.”

Vivian crossed her arms, leaning back slightly. “Real, huh? You’re falling for her already?”

“It’s not about falling, Vivian. It’s just… it feels right,” he admitted. “And I don’t want to go back to old patterns.”

She sighed, her tone shifting to a softer plea. “Lucas, I get it. I really do. But relationships take work. I was young and impulsive, but I’m different now. I want to show you that.”

Lucas felt a pang of guilt at her words. He had cared for her once, and a part of him still did. “It’s just… I don’t know if it’s fair to either of us to revisit things.”

She reached across the table, her hand covering his. “Please. Just give me a chance to prove that I’ve changed. You can’t deny we had something special.”

The warmth of her hand felt familiar, yet it only reminded him of the past. He pulled his hand away gently. “I’m sorry, Vivian. I need to be honest with you. I’m interested in Emma. I want to see where that goes.”

Vivian’s expression hardened for a moment, then softened as she straightened up. “I understand. But don’t forget the connection we had, Lucas. Just because we’re not together doesn’t mean it didn’t mean something.”

The conversation weighed heavily between them, filled with unspoken tension and old wounds. Lucas felt a knot form in his stomach. He hadn’t wanted to hurt her, but he also couldn’t ignore what was happening with Emma.

As they finished their coffees, the conversation drifted back to lighter topics, but Lucas’s mind was elsewhere. He glanced at the clock, wishing the meeting would come to an end.

When they finally stood to leave, Lucas felt a sense of relief mixed with lingering guilt. They walked out of the café together, and as they stood on the sidewalk, Vivian turned to him, her eyes searching his.

“Just think about it, okay? I’ll always be here,” she said softly.

He nodded, giving her a polite smile. “Take care, Vivian.”

As he watched her walk away, he felt a rush of conflicting emotions. He wanted to move forward, to explore what was blossoming between him and Emma. But Vivian’s presence had stirred up old feelings, making him question everything.

That evening, as he returned home, Lucas pulled out his phone, hesitating for a moment before scrolling through his contacts. He found Emma’s name and, with a sense of determination, typed out a message.

“Hey, are you free for coffee sometime?”

After hitting send, he felt a mix of excitement and anxiety. He wanted to be honest with Emma about what had transpired with Vivian, but he also knew that he couldn’t let her past define his future.

Meanwhile, Emma sat in her apartment, sipping tea and flipping through her notebook filled with ideas for her next blog post. She hadn’t heard from Lucas since their night together, and she tried to push away the nagging feeling of doubt. Was she reading too much into their connection?

Just as she set her notebook down, her phone buzzed with a notification. Her heart raced as she saw Lucas’s name flash across the screen.

“Hey, are you free for coffee sometime?”

She smiled, feeling warmth spread through her. Quickly, she typed a response.

“I’d love to! When were you thinking?”

As she hit send, excitement bubbled within her. Their connection had felt genuine, and she hoped this could lead to something more. She pushed thoughts of the past from her mind, focusing instead on the possibility of seeing him again.

Unbeknownst to both of them, their paths were intertwining in ways they hadn’t anticipated, each carrying the weight of past relationships while striving for something new. The evening had changed things, introducing complications and uncertainties, but it also opened the door for possibilities that neither had imagined.