You didn't go home after seeing Nicholas. You couldn't. The memories felt too fresh, the air too heavy, and the coffee shop encounter left you reeling. You walked aimlessly through the city, the cool breeze biting at your skin as you tried to collect your thoughts.
It had been years. Years of silence, of moving forward, of trying to forget the boy who had once been your everything. And yet, seeing him again—it was like the wound had never healed.
By the time you got home, the sun was setting, casting a golden glow through the windows. You dropped your bag on the couch and collapsed into the nearest chair, staring blankly at the wall.
Your phone buzzed on the table.
For a moment, you considered ignoring it, but something told you to look. When you did, your stomach dropped.
Nick: Can we talk? Please?
You stared at the message, your thumb hovering over the screen. Part of you wanted to delete it, to pretend you hadn't seen it. But another part—a smaller, weaker part—wanted answers.
Finally, you typed back: What's the point?
The response came almost immediately. There are things I need to say. Things I should've said years ago. Please. One conversation. That's all I'm asking.
Against your better judgment, you agreed.
You met him at a park just outside the city, a place the two of you used to go when life felt too overwhelming. It was quiet now, the only sounds coming from the rustle of leaves and the distant hum of traffic.
Nicholas was already there when you arrived, leaning against a bench with his hands stuffed in his pockets. He looked nervous, a sight you weren't used to. Nicholas had always been confident, almost to a fault.
When he saw you, he straightened, his eyes scanning your face as if searching for something.
"Thanks for coming," he said softly.
You crossed your arms, keeping your distance. "What do you want, Nick?"
He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "I don't even know where to start."
"Try the beginning," you said, your voice colder than you intended.
He nodded, swallowing hard. "I never stopped thinking about you."
You laughed bitterly. "Could've fooled me. You didn't exactly reach out."
"I thought about it," he said quickly, his words tumbling over each other. "God, Y/N, I thought about it so many times. But I didn't know if you'd even want to hear from me."
"You didn't give me a chance to decide, did you?" you shot back.
He winced, but he didn't argue. "You're right. I didn't. And I'm sorry for that. I was scared, okay? I was scared that if I stayed, I'd resent you. And if I left, you'd hate me."
Your chest tightened, anger and sadness warring within you. "And you decided leaving was better? That walking out was the solution?"
"I didn't know what else to do!" he said, his voice rising. "You wouldn't come with me, and I couldn't stay. It felt like no matter what, we were going to lose each other."
"So you chose your career over us."
He shook his head. "I didn't choose anything. I didn't know how to make it work. I didn't know how to fix it."
You looked away, the pain in his voice cutting deeper than you expected. "You didn't even try, Nick."
"I know," he said, his voice breaking. "I know I didn't. And I regret it. Every day, I regret it."
The silence between you was heavy, filled with the weight of things unsaid.
"What about Victoria?" you asked finally, your voice quieter now. "You look pretty happy with her."
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Victoria's great. She really is. But she's not... she's not you."
You froze, your heart skipping a beat. "Don't say that."
"It's the truth," he said, stepping closer. "No matter how many years pass, no matter how much I try to move on... it's always you, Y/N."
Tears pricked your eyes, but you blinked them away. "You don't get to say that now. You don't get to come back after all this time and tell me I still matter to you."
"Why not?" he asked, his voice raw. "Why can't I tell you the truth?"
"Because it's too late!" you shouted, the words bursting out of you. "You left, Nick. You didn't stick around when it mattered. You didn't fight for me, for us. And now you want to come back and act like nothing's changed?"
His shoulders sagged, and for the first time, he looked truly defeated. "I know I don't deserve a second chance. I know I messed everything up. But I needed you to know how I feel. I couldn't live with myself if I didn't tell you."
You stared at him, your heart aching with a mix of love and anger. Part of you wanted to believe him, to let him back in. But another part, the part that remembered the nights spent crying yourself to sleep, couldn't forget.
"I can't do this again," you said finally, your voice barely above a whisper.
"Y/N—" Nick starts to speak, his hand reaching out to cup your face.
"I can't, Nick," you repeated, stepping back. "I've spent years trying to put myself back together, and I won't let you tear me apart again."
He nodded slowly, his eyes glistening with tears. "I understand."
You turned to leave, your steps heavy with the weight of what could've been.
"Y/N," he called after you.
You stopped but didn't turn around.
"For what it's worth," he said, his voice trembling, "I never stopped loving you."
You closed your eyes, letting the words wash over you. Then you walked away, leaving Nicholas Chavez behind once more.
