Chasing Second Chances

t in t

rary, late nights lost in ink and paper, and weekends at local cafés, writing or drinking coffee with

ething shifted. And everything that once fe

ed with

y, 10

She ignored it at first, but it buzzed again- harder, more urgent

'm in town for a fe

hitting her like a br

ther city for her internship, and their communication had dwindled, the rift between them growing wider with each passing week. T

reen for a long time

She hadn't been expecting this. Not now. Not when things with Adonis had begun t

in Lena's life was eve

t afterno

laptop open. He was typing away, lost in whatever project he was working on, his finger

ased, his eyes crink

cted by the message on her phone

eyebrow. "S

tightening around her coffe

ensing her unease. "Do y

uld trust him. But the idea of revisiting the past- of reopening old w

ing her answer. "Alright. I

eing patient with her, of letting her take the time she needed.

ed that her mind was already racing toward Aria. Toward that

Aria was back. But w

ingers tapping on the table. She wasn't sure if

ssignment. As the conversation shifted, Lena managed to push aside the thoughts of Aria, b

day,

amiliar red-and-white sign of Bridges Café hung above her, and for a moment, she wasn't sure

of catching up with her

nd coffee wrapped around her, and for a moment, she thought it would be just like old times- comf

hievous smile, and a tendency to wear clothes that made her seem effortlessly chic.

ighting up with recognition. "Lena," she said

It felt strange- awkward, even. There was no denying

the seat across from Aria. She folded her hand

e knew the history they shared could never be

ing the weight of everything unsaid

ce low. "I know I messed up. I know I hurt you. But I'm he

a rush of skepticism. Aria's apology didn't feel like enough

etly. "It's not just about fixing it, Ar

. "I know. And I hate myself for it. But I've changed. I

ant it. But all she saw was the girl who had once been her best friend

forgive you," Lena sa

o touch Lena's hand. "I don't expect you to. But

eart pounding in her chest. She wasn't

said, her voice firm

ightly. "I understand. I'm not here to

nversation pressing down on her. "I'll thin

echoed in her ears, but they didn't bring her any peace. All they did was

night, Lena

r phone buzzed again. She glanced

did i

and thoughts swirling around, and none of them felt clear e

compli

d, her thoughts swirling. What was she supposed to do now

expression gentle, waiting. He didn't say anything right away. He didn't need to.

you're ready,"

tside her window was a dull reminder that life kept moving, even when her own world felt

are you

ed to talk

want to burden him with the storm swirling in her mind. Instead, she responded with

Just proces

d and rubbed her temples. Proces

She had been caught in a current, one that had dragged her back to a place she wasn't sure she was ready to fac

l this time, had

r her head-needed to make sense of everything. She grab

morning

, and the events of the previous day kept replaying over and over in her head. Despite her internal chaos, she was drawn here like a moth t

f a book. He looked up as soon as she approached, a soft smile spreading across his face. There

nd steady. He was always so calm, as i

he weight of her own thoughts pressing against her, but Adonis didn't rush her.

till tangled, still wrestling with everything that had happened.

rrowed slightly, his fingers tapping lightly on

nked. "Y

sterday. There's something between you two, something unresolv

at to do, Adonis. I'm so angry. But at the same time, part of me wants to j

to forgive her if you're not ready. But you do deserve to find peac

comes back, asking for something more than just forgiveness? What if she expects me to pi

Finally, he said, "Trust isn't something you just give back. It's earned. And if Aria's really chang

ade sense, but it didn't make it easier. The thought of confronting Aria again-of reo

with uncertainty. "But I don't know if I can fac

ile. "You don't have to do it alone. I'm

was everything she had needed but hadn't known how to ask for. She wanted to trust him wi

donis," sh

yful glint in his

derstanding. And for a moment, Lena allowed herself to feel a sen

buzzed again, pullin

e screen. The mes

But I need to see you

again. The invitation she had been dreading. She did

whispered

nt, raised an eyebro

dge of her phone. "It's Aria. She wants to mee

tly taking her hand in his. The gesture was simple, but it spoke volu

f she could forgive Aria or whether their friendship could ever go back to what it was. But for the first time in a long time,

ay, Aria's

ing in her chest. Every instinct told her to turn around, to walk away, to leave the past where it belonged. But a smal

knoc

r, and Aria stood there, her

id softly, her

g to keep her composu

now I've hurt you. But I'm not here to make excuses.

ould forgive Aria yet. She wasn't sure if she ever wou