If I loved You Again

earth. Kim's fingers gripped her umbrella tightly as she walked toward the park, each step carrying a mix of

. She arrived at the old bridge, the place where so many of their memories had begun, and paused at the entranc

ere sh

ring drizzle. She looked different...older, calmer, but still impossibly familiar. Kim's heart skipped.

soft, unsure, but it ca

o fear, and the quiet tremor of vulnerability she rarely let anyone see.

for the explanation that might ease the pain she had carried for so long. "Why now?

meeting Kim's eyes again. "Because I couldn't stay

alized that imagining and hearing them were very different things. The bridge between the past an

ught I was protecting you... protecting us. But all I did was hurt you and mys

rong, the ache of loving someone who disappeared without reason. And yet... seeing Ari now, standing there with those s

n her voice betraying her calm. "Years... I needed you,

nd. "I know. I can never take back what I did. But I want to try t

it was like a key turning in a lock long forgotten. She wanted to say yes, to forgive, to close the years of

piece of paper Ari had left in th

know if I can... just yet," she said. "But...

appearing. "Thank you," she whispe

under the late afternoon sun, both lost in memories, both aware

thought... I thought it would be easier if we just... didn't exist for each other anymore. But every day, K

eaking it all at once. She wanted to run, to hide, to fall into Ari's arms, and at

o brush it away. Her touch was tentative, respectful, yet filled wit

tted, her voice trembling. "It's been so long. So much

expect you to forgive me right away.

the sky, the rain, and the shadows of their past. And slowly, almost imperceptibly, the weigh

still leaving a small space between them. "Then...

glistening. "I will

icker of hope. The bridge between past and present was fragile, yes, but it existed and

hake the feeling that some secrets had yet to surface... secrets that