Hold On I Still Need You

-A New Beginning-

Sophie's POV:

As the sun started to set, casting long shadows over the landscape, the room we were in felt timeless. Keefe and I sat close together, surrounded by a peaceful silence, with only the gentle hum of the world outside breaking the stillness. In that moment, there was no hurry, no chaos. It was just the two of us, finding solace in the quiet we had grown accustomed to sharing.

It had been a long time since I felt this at peace. So much had happened, so many pieces of me shattered and put back together in ways I never thought possible. But now, as the world seemed to settle around us, a new chapter was waiting. I could feel it on the edge of my thoughts, ready to take me in a new direction - the future. I was ready for it.

"Do you ever think about what's next?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Keefe shifted beside me, his gaze thoughtful. "All the time. But it's not about rushing to it, you know? We've both got our own paths to figure out. We've been through a lot. We deserve the time it takes to heal."

His words wrapped around me like a safety net, reminding me that it was okay to move at my own pace. And yet, as I sat there with him, the decision was already made. I couldn't keep looking back. Not forever. The past would always be a part of me, but I had to stop letting it define me.

Keefe turned to me, his eyes filled with the familiar understanding I cherished. "Whatever you choose, I'm here for you. Just know that you don't have to have everything figured out at this moment."

It dawned on me that he was right. I didn't need to have all the answers right now. I just needed to take that initial step forward.

The future beckoned, and for the first time in a while, I felt prepared to confront it.

The first day back was more challenging than I had anticipated. The classroom seemed unfamiliar, too bright and too loud. The usual chatter of my classmates, which used to be comforting, now felt distant and hard to connect with. I sat down, feeling my hands tremble slightly as I struggled to concentrate on the lecture. I was interested in the material, but my mind felt disconnected. Memories I wasn't ready to face kept creeping in, making it difficult to focus on the lesson. The words on the page seemed to blur together, and I wondered if I would ever feel like myself again.

After the class ended, I stayed in the back, observing the students as they left. They moved effortlessly, in a rhythm I used to be a part of. However, it now felt like a world I no longer belonged to. My former self, who could handle assignments, tests, and projects with ease, seemed like a distant memory, someone I wasn't sure I could ever be again.

I couldn't stay in that space forever. I had decided to return to my studies and find normalcy again, which meant pushing through the discomfort. During lunch, I met Biana's eyes across the hall, and her warm and understanding smile gave me the nudge I needed.

"Are you okay?" she asked softly as she settled beside me.

"I don't know," I admitted, feeling vulnerable. "It's harder than I thought. My brain keeps wandering."

"I understand," she said. "But it's okay. You're doing great. Just take it one step at a time."

Her words were comforting, easing my frustration. Maybe I didn't have to be perfect, and maybe it was okay to struggle a little. After all, I wasn't alone.

The following day, I gathered my courage and attended another class. Though I still felt uncertain and shaky, I persevered. I concentrated on my research paper for a challenging course, and gradually, I started to regain my confidence. The words began to click, and my mind felt more alive.