As they neared the familiar neighborhood, Lingling felt her heartbeat quicken. It had been years since she'd set foot in this place, the house that once held all the dreams they'd built together.
Now, as she and Orm approached it again, she felt a mix of anticipation, nostalgia, and a touch of fear. The house looked the same, but age had softened its edges. Lingling glanced over at Orm, who was staring at the building with a distant, unreadable expression.
Orm took a deep breath, then gave Lingling a reassuring nod, urging her forward. They stepped onto the front porch, and memories washed over them.
The laughter that once filled these walls, the late nights spent talking, the small arguments, and the quiet mornings they'd shared.
Lingling ran her fingers along the faded wood railing, her mind flooding with memories of their younger selves, full of hopes but unprepared for the challenges that had eventually pulled them apart.
"I remember sitting here one evening, just watching the stars," Orm said softly, her voice laced with nostalgia. "I thought we'd have forever."
Lingling bit her lip, struggling to find words. "Me too. I thought we'd make it work somehow." She sighed, a mixture of sadness and relief settling over her. "But I also know I wasn't ready back then. I didn't know how to be there for you, not in the way you needed."
Orm turned to her, her eyes reflecting a softness Lingling hadn't seen in a long time. "We were young, Ling. We both made mistakes. But I don't regret any of it not even the hard parts. They brought us here, to where we are now."
Lingling's chest tightened as she felt the weight of those words. She looked around, taking in every detail as if seeing it for the first time.
This place held so many pieces of who they used to be, but it also reminded her of how far they'd come. Taking a steadying breath, Lingling reached for Orm's hand, intertwining their fingers. "I think... I needed this. To see it, to remember it.. it feels like... closing a chapter, so we can start a new one."
Orm smiled, a hint of peace in her gaze. "I feel that too." She squeezed Lingling's hand, as if sealing the unspoken promise they were making. "We don't need to carry this past with us anymore. We have each other now, in a way we didn't back then."
As they ventured further into the house, Orm and Lingling found their old bedroom, where time had left reminders of the life they once shared.
Lingling noticed boxes tucked into the corner, and as she opened one, she found old photo frames and souvenirs from their years together.
She pulled out a picture of them from a long ago vacation, both of them beaming, arms around each other, completely carefree.
Orm smiled softly as she looked over Lingling's shoulder. "I remember that day. We thought we'd get lost forever on that hiking trail."
Lingling chuckled, the memory warming her. "And then we ended up finding that tiny restaurant, where the food was... definitely questionable."
They both laughed, the memories bringing an unexpected ease. Lingling set the picture down, her gaze falling on other mementos the little notes they used to leave each other, a ticket stub from their first concert, small tokens of a love that had been both innocent and intense.
Orm reached out, wrapping her arms around Lingling from behind, resting her chin on Lingling's shoulder as they took it all in together. She gave Lingling a gentle squeeze, as if grounding her in this moment.
"Look how far we've come." Orm whispered, a soft smile playing on her lips.
Lingling turned, meeting Orm's eyes, and they held each other in a quiet, heartfelt embrace. Without a word, they shared a tender kiss, one that carried both the weight of their past and the lightness of new beginnings.
As they pulled back, Lingling rested her forehead against Orm's, a deep contentment settling in. "I'm glad we came back here." she murmured, her eyes soft with gratitude.
"It's good to remember... and to know we're happy again."
Orm nodded, her smile widening. "We're here together, and that's what matters." With one last look around, they closed the door on their old room, carrying only the best memories forward.They stood there for a few moments, silently paying tribute to the past. Then, hand in hand, they walked back to the car, leaving the house and its memories behind.
As they drove away, the weight of old regrets lifted, leaving room for a future they were ready to embrace together.
YOU ARE READING
Maybe This Time
FanfictionLingling Kwong and Orm Kornaphanat, once inseparable and deeply in love, find themselves divorced after years of growing apart. Lingling's impulsive decisions and neglect led to the downfall of their marriage, shattering Orm's trust. Now years lat...