The One He Let Go

e

ractice, the crowd hanging on every word. I smiled through the applause, the excitement buzzin

desk, nestled between my campaign notes. Fresh lilies, soft white petals, their fragrance

for weeks, I longed for his presence. Maybe these were from him-his way of showing support. After I picked interest in b

he envelope, a cold sh

your past, Kelly. Not

ach dropped. The words, cryptic and veno

this wasn't a gesture of love or affection. This was a warning, a threat. From someone who knew far t

ers

m. I focused on my speech, on putting on the perfect face for the crowd, that I hadn't even considered he would be there. But now, the pieces fell into place

e of my desk. My mind screamed at me to be rational, to calm down. It wasn't him, It couldn't be. But the ink on that

e. Not even with

..

raced. I had spent years growing, healing, reinventing myself. And now,

lly breathe again. Like I could finally look forward to something beyond the walls I

ther in the distance. I should have known better. No one truly escapes their pa

I should have been smarter. I

ed at the caller ID before answering, the momentary relief I felt

, my voice softe

are you? I'm i

ng to keep my voice steady. "I

he said, his voice warm, comforting. "I'm c

is embrace. Adrian had always been my rock, my shield, the person who reminded me that m

nced back at the scattered flowers on t

, sensing the change in

th hung in the air, suffocating, but

nstead. "I'll be rea

cing, replaying the message over and over again. Anderson was out there, he recognized me. And no

..

He wrapped his arms around me in a tight hug, his lips brushing the top of my head. For a brief m

rms I was craving, but the escape I had once be

ling back to look me in the eyes. "The campaign looks like i

, my hand restin

every step forward is fol

n eyebrow, his

do yo

I tell him the one thing I had never said aloud-that I was terrified Anderson would destr

voice shaky. "There's something I haven't to

ned. "Wha

unwilling to

to this. Not when things are

ed my face, forcin

this together,

lowed

. But i

nock at the door, pulling me

ed, his eyes

was

ead, taking

w. Stay here

ached for the doorknob, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watch

. nothing. No one was there. Just

me. I turned to face him, his expre

r softly, lockin

something. I'm ju

didn't

. You're not telli

cream the truth, to finally say the words I

d away, leaning

.. everything cat

r, his hand gently b

ure it out

eve him. I neede