Cecily sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the wall.
The hotel room felt smaller than it had yesterday and since she arrived here . It felt like the air itself was watching her.
Her phone laying beside her, screen facing up.
Yet no new messages.
No matter how hard she tried to convince herself she wasn't waiting for one.
She knew it was a lie. She was waiting for him.
She sighed and stood up, walking to the mirror. She looked tired. Her eyes looked heavier, like she hadn't slept in days even though she had.
"Get it together," she whispered saying to herself.
She had a flight later in the evening. Just a few more hours in this city. Just a few more hours away from memories she thought she had buried. And a few more hours away from him.
Her phone buzzed suddenly.
Her heart jumped with anticipation before she could stop it.
She grabbed it.
Ethan.
Her fingers tightened around the phone. And her pulse hammered inside of her.
She didn't open the message immediately. For she knew she had to gather all her strength and will to do it.
She breathed in.
Then out.
Finally, she tapped the screen. Opening the message.
Ethan: "Can we talk again before you leave? Please"
She closed her eyes. Due to the heavy feelings the message just brought to her.
She already knew she shouldn't. Her mind is screaming no, while her heart is screaming yes.
But knowing didn't stop her heart from wanting,for yearning for one last moment with him.
She typed.
Deleted.
Typed again.
Deleted again.
Finally, she replied.
Cecily: "Where?"
A few seconds passed.
Ethan: "Same cafe. If that's okay."
She stared at the message.
"It's not okay," she muttered helplessly.
But her fingers typed something else.
Cecily: "Okay."
She put the phone down and leaned her forehead against the mirror, feeling like she just made a very bad decision.
"Stupid," she said softly, while banging her head softly.
Ethan arrived early.
Again. Which was so unlike the Ethan she once knew.
This time, he actually wanted to be early.
He sat at the same table as yesterday, hands wrapped around a cup of coffee he hadn't touched. He kept checking the door like she might disappear if he looked away.
He didn't know what he planned to say. Or what to do.
All he knew was that letting her leave without speaking again felt wrong,and it made his heart ache uncomfortably.
He saw her the moment she walked in.
She wore a simple dress. No effort. Like she didn't care how she looked.
And that somehow hurt more than he cares to accept.
She spotted him and hesitated before walking over.
"Hi," she said.
"Hi," he replied.
She sat down.
For a moment, neither of them spoke,nor moved.
The silence wasn't comfortable. It felt too heavy and tensed.
"So," Cecily said, breaking it. "You wanted to talk."
"Yes," Ethan replied quickly. "I mean....yeah."
She nodded.
"What about?"
He swallowed. Clenching and unclenching his fist.
"Us."
Her jaw tightened.
"There is no us," she said. Her voice loud and sharp.
"I know," he replied. "But… there was. Once"
She looked away.
"That was a long time ago. The past"
"Does it feel like it?" he asked quietly.
She didn't answer immediately. Cause she didn't know what to say or how to reply.
Then she said, "It feels like a wound that never healed. No matter how long it was inflected"
That hit him hard. Like a punch to the gut.
"I never meant for that," he said.
"I know," she replied. "But intentions don't erase damage. No matter how hard one try"
He leaned forward slightly.
"I read your email again last night."
Her fingers curled around her bag. Trying to calm herself down.
"You don't have to bring that up you know??"
"I do," he said. "Because that email explains everything more clearly."
"It explains how you left me waiting," she snapped.
"I didn't see it," he said again. "I swear."
"And I didn't know that," she replied. "All I knew was silence and disappointment."
Her voice shook despite her trying to stay calm.
"I blamed myself," she continued. "I thought I said something wrong. Did something wrong."
Ethan looked down.
"I'm sorry."
"I know you are," she said softly. "But sorry doesn't change what happened to me. What happened to us."
He nodded.
"I know."
They sat in silence again.
"You're engaged," Ethan said after a while.
"Yes."
"Are you happy?"
She hesitated.
"I'm… safe."
"That's not what I asked."
She looked at him then.
"I'm trying to be," she said honestly.
He nodded slowly.
"He loves you?"
"Yes," she replied. "In his own way."
That answer told him more than she meant to.
"You still love me," he said quietly.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"That's not fair."
"It's true," he said.
She laughed softly, but there was no humor in it.
"I don't know what I feel," she said. "And that's the scary part."
He leaned back.
"I don't want to ruin your life."
"You already did," she said, then quickly added, "Not on purpose."
He winced.
"And I don't want to ruin yours either," she continued.
"But seeing you again opened something I worked so hard to close. Something I've been trying to convince myself to move on from."
"I didn't plan this," he said.
"Neither did I."
Her phone buzzed on the table.
She glanced at it.
Liam.
Her chest tightened.
"You should answer," Ethan said.
She hesitated.
Then she shook her head.
"Later."
Ethan noticed her hand trembling slightly.
"Does he know you're here with me?"
"No," she replied. She said with a snappy tone.
"And that makes you uncomfortable."
"Yes."
"That tells you something," he said gently.
She sighed.
"I don't want to be this person."
"Neither do I," he replied.
Another pause.
"I leave tonight," Cecily said.
"I know."
"This has to end here."
"I know," he said again.
She stood up slowly.
"So why does it feel unfinished?"
Because it is, he thought. But didn't dare to say it out loud.
But they both know it is.
She picked up her bag.
"I'm glad I saw you," she said.
"Even if it hurts,and brings back painful memories."
"Me too," he replied.
She hesitated, then said, "Take care of yourself, Ethan."
"You too, Cecily."
She turned to leave.
Then she stopped.
"Ethan?"
"Yes?"
"Promise me something."
"Anything."
"Don't disappear again."
He nodded.
"I won't."
She walked out.
Ethan watched until she was gone.
And for the first time in years, he felt the weight of what they lost fully settle in his chest.