Forgetting Sparks

Chapter 1

The airport terminal was buzzing with the usual blur of travelers, but Layla felt like she was floating in a separate space, her mind lingering on memories she thought she'd tucked away forever. She hadn't expected her heart to pound this hard. Seven years. Seven years since she last saw him. And now, just the thought of their reunion was making her palms sweat.

She hadn't heard much about him since he left—except that he was doing well, studying abroad, working on something "important," or at least that's what people had said. It was the kind of vague news people throw around about people who are gone, like it's supposed to be enough. But it had never been enough for her.

"Do you think he remembers everything?" she asked, mostly to herself, but her best friend, Nora, didn't miss a beat.

"Oh, come on, Layla. Of course he remembers. You guys were like... inseparable." Nora nudged her with a playful smile. "Unless he suffered some dramatic amnesia, there's no way he forgot about you."

Layla bit her lip, fiddling with the strap of her purse. "It's just... it's been so long. People change, you know?"

Nora rolled her eyes. "Well, so have you. Look at you—seriously, you're gorgeous, you're smart. Any guy would be insane not to remember you."

But Layla barely heard Nora. Her mind was racing through her memories of Omar. He was her first everything—first crush, first kiss, first real heartbreak when he had to leave. Back then, they'd made promises that neither of them kept, promises that distance and time had wiped away. And yet, there was that old ache, the one that only seemed to intensify the closer she got to seeing him again.

Just then, a flash of familiar dark curls and broad shoulders caught her eye. She looked up and... there he was. Omar. He looked so much like she remembered and yet... different. Taller, more solid, his body honed like he'd spent hours at the gym. His jawline was sharper, and there was a new intensity in his eyes, a confidence she didn't remember from their younger days.

Layla's breath hitched. "Wow," she whispered under her breath.

Omar's eyes scanned the crowd, and when they landed on her, a flicker of something passed over his face—surprise, maybe, or recognition. He broke into a grin that was equal parts familiar and unfamiliar, as if he'd missed her as much as she had missed him.

"Layla?" His voice was deeper, richer, and it washed over her like a forgotten melody. She felt her cheeks flush.

"Omar..." she managed, her voice barely above a whisper. For a moment, it felt like they were the only two people in the bustling terminal.

He stepped closer, his gaze warm but cautious. "You look... wow. I mean, you look great."

She smiled shyly, feeling that teenage flutter in her stomach, even though she was a grown woman now. "Thanks. You look... different too. In a good way."

There was a pause, and she could see him searching for words. "It's been a long time."

"Yeah, it has," she said, nodding, almost afraid to blink. Afraid he'd disappear if she did.

Nora cleared her throat, breaking the spell. "Um, should I give you two a moment, or...?"

Layla let out a nervous laugh, shooting Nora a look of gratitude for the much-needed grounding. "This is Nora," she introduced, glad to have a reason to look away from Omar's piercing gaze for just a second. "My best friend."

Omar extended his hand. "Nice to meet you, Nora. I've heard a lot about Layla's friends from back in the day."

"Oh, I can imagine." Nora winked. "I'll let you guys catch up. Text me if you need a rescue." With a sly smile, she left them, blending into the crowd.

As they watched her go, Layla suddenly felt self-conscious, aware of how closely Omar was watching her. She looked back at him, her heart still beating a little too fast. "So, how's life? You must be doing big things."

He shrugged, his eyes still locked on hers. "It's been... busy, but good. I've been working a lot. What about you?"

She hesitated, unsure how to compress the years into a casual answer. "I stayed here, did some work, tried to figure out who I am, I guess." She shrugged. "I missed... I missed a lot, actually." Her words hung in the air, more vulnerable than she intended.

There was a shadow that crossed his face, something she couldn't quite place. Regret? Sadness? It was gone as quickly as it appeared. "I missed a lot too," he said quietly, as if admitting to a secret.

For a few heartbeats, they stood there, both aware of the years, the miles, the silence that had grown between them. But in that moment, with the bustling crowd around them and the hum of airport announcements overhead, it felt like none of it had ever really mattered.

They had both changed, yet somehow... she felt like she was sixteen again, feeling that first, bright thrill of falling for her best friend.

"So," he said, a bit too casually, like he was trying to ease the tension, "can I take you out for coffee, or maybe somewhere a little less chaotic than an airport?"

She laughed, feeling that spark again, the one that had been buried under years of doubt and distance. "Yeah, I'd like that."

As they walked toward the exit, she caught a glimpse of someone watching them from a distance, a man with a shadowed expression. She shivered slightly but brushed it off, deciding that nothing could ruin this reunion. Not now.