When We Were Us (#1 Romance)

20: Still Not Over

Nashid ignored my last message, the one that felt like it carried the last of my heart. 

I waited, hoping, even expecting that he'd respond, if only to say goodbye. But there was nothing. Silence. The kind of silence that doesn't just fill the space—it fills you up, pressing down, until even breathing feels heavy.

Now, I see it clearly, he's changed. 

The man who once made me feel safe, cherished, understood, is gone. And what hurts the most is realizing he's choosing to be gone. 

That someone I've known so deeply, someone I thought would always be there, could just... vanish. 

It's so cruel, and I never imagined it would be him who'd hurt me this way.

As I sit here, tears slipping down my cheeks, it all feels surreal.

It's September now, and in just a few weeks, he'll be leaving for Australia. October will mark the beginning of his new life there.

Now, though, I'm left here with only questions, spiraling endlessly in my mind.

Are we over? Is this how it all ends?

Are we over? Is this how it ends?

I never wanted to be the one to consider ending it, yet here I am, wondering if I'll be the one to let go. 

It's as if he wants a breakup but doesn't have the courage to say it aloud. 

How did it come to this? He once hated wasting time, yet he's been wasting mine, piece by piece, as if all that time meant nothing.

I feel hollow, as if all the dreams, the memories, and the future we built together are slipping away, leaving only the painful echo of what could have been.

Two days have passed. Still no reply from Nashid. 

Each time I look at my phone, there's that small, stubborn flicker of hope that somehow he'll say something, anything. But instead, I'm left in this aching silence, a silence that seems to stretch into every corner of my life.

I've barely slept, haunted by the emptiness he left behind. 

I thought ending things would bring me peace, or at least relief. But it's even worse. I expected closure, at least a final word from him. Instead, I'm stuck in this place where he's simply... gone, as if we meant nothing. 

It feels unbearable, like I'm losing my mind just replaying everything we had and everything that's been left unsaid.

Then, my phone vibrates, pulling me out of my thoughts. 

A message from an old high school friend, inviting me to our class reunion tomorrow. 

It's a small moment, but suddenly, the idea of getting out, seeing familiar faces, and escaping this lonely cycle feels like the lifeline I didn't know I needed. A chance to breathe, to distract myself from the hurt, even if it's only for a little while.

I took extra care getting ready, putting on my best dress, trying to channel a sense of confidence and energy I hadn't felt in a while. 

I felt different—like I had something to prove, not to anyone else, but to myself. No one here knows what's going on between Nashid and me. 

I'd decided that tonight, I'd just act as if everything was perfectly fine.

After finishing up, I grabbed my keys and drove to the café where our class reunion was being held. 

From the outside, I could see it was bustling with people, and that familiar feeling of nervousness crept in. 

Great, looks like everyone's already here. I took a deep breath, pushed open the door, and stepped inside.