unexpected love (Leah Williamson)

Rebuilding Trust

Leah's POV:

I sat on the couch, nervous, as I waited for Ella. She'd agreed to come over, but only after I'd promised to talk honestly. I knew I'd hurt her, and the guilt gnawed at me. I'd spent days agonizing over what to say, how to apologize, but now that she was actually coming, my mind was blank.

When the knock finally came, I jumped up, taking a steadying breath before opening the door. Ella stood there, looking as beautiful as ever, but her expression was guarded. She looked exhausted, her usual warmth subdued. My chest tightened at the realization of just how much pain I'd caused.

"Hey," I said softly, stepping aside to let her in.

"Hey," she replied, her tone cool, as she walked past me and took a seat on the edge of the couch.

I joined her, not too close, giving her the space she seemed to need. For a moment, neither of us spoke, the silence heavy with unspoken feelings. Finally, I cleared my throat, forcing myself to look her in the eyes.

"Ella, I'm so sorry. I know that doesn't fix what I said, but I mean it. I shouldn't have taken everything out on you."

She nodded, her gaze fixed on the floor. "I know you're going through a lot, Leah. I wanted to help you through it, to be there. But you pushed me away—like I wasn't someone you could lean on."

Her voice was steady, but I could hear the hurt beneath it. The realization stung. Ella had done nothing but support me, and I'd thrown her kindness back at her.

"I know," I admitted, my voice raw. "I didn't know how to handle any of this. This injury, it's... it's shaken me. Football was my whole life, and now that it's gone—at least for now—I feel like I'm losing myself. And I took that out on you because... I don't know. I was scared, and it was easier to push you away than to admit how lost I felt."

Ella looked up, her green eyes softening as she listened. But I could see the hesitancy there too, a wall she was keeping up. I couldn't blame her.

"I know it's not an excuse," I continued. "But I need you to know that I'm ready to do better. I don't want to hurt you again. I just... I really want you in my life, Ella. I want us."

She sighed, her fingers tracing an invisible pattern on the couch as she thought. "Leah, I love you. But I need to know that you can be open with me. This isn't going to work if you shut me out every time something gets hard."

Her words struck a chord. I realized how many times I'd kept things to myself, how I'd chosen isolation over trust. She deserved more.

"You're right," I said, my voice steady. "I'll do better, I promise. I don't want to keep you at arm's length. If you'll give me another chance, I'll let you in. I'll work through this with you."

Ella nodded slowly, a hint of a smile breaking through. "Okay," she whispered, her voice softer now. "But, Leah... if we're going to move forward, I need to feel like you trust me enough to let me help."

I reached over, taking her hand. "I do trust you. And I'm sorry for ever making you feel like I didn't."

She leaned into me slightly, resting her head on my shoulder. We stayed there in silence for a few minutes, letting the tension between us dissipate, both of us finally feeling that connection again.

A Few Days Later

Ella's POV:

The days following our talk felt lighter. Leah had opened up more, sharing her frustrations about her injury, her fears, her anger. It wasn't easy for her—she still struggled with the vulnerability—but I could see her trying. And with each small step, I felt my heart growing closer to hers again.

One evening, we decided to go out to get some fresh air. Leah wanted to try walking a bit, even though she was still on crutches. I kept close, ready to help her if she needed it, but she managed, her face determined.

As we walked, she glanced over at me, a spark of the old Leah shining through. "You know, I'm lucky to have you," she said softly. "I don't say it enough, but... thank you for sticking around."

I smiled, feeling warmth spread through my chest. "You're worth sticking around for, Leah. Just don't forget it."

She grinned, and for the first time in a while, I could see a glimpse of the person she was before her injury—the Leah who was strong, confident, and filled with a fire that couldn't be dimmed. I knew she still had a long road ahead, but as we walked together, I felt hopeful. We would face this challenge side by side, and whatever came next, we'd face it together.

That night, Leah invited me to stay over, and for the first time in weeks, it felt natural, like we'd found our way back to each other. She was open, laughing, letting me in without reservation. As we settled in for the night, I wrapped my arms around her, feeling her warmth, her heartbeat steady against mine.

In that quiet moment, I realized that, no matter what obstacles we faced, we'd come out stronger. This wasn't just about the injury; it was about trust, resilience, and learning to let love in. And together, we'd learned just that.