10

Tara sat at the small corner table in the university café, absently stirring her coffee. Priya and Aisha sat across from her, their faces reflecting concern. The conversation had shifted toward Aryan, as it always seemed to when Tara was around them these days. She had been quiet, lost in her own thoughts, but now, she couldn't keep it in any longer.

She finally broke the silence, her voice low, almost tired. "I just... I don't know how I feel anymore. I thought I was over it. But now he's here, and everything feels like it's pulling me back."

Priya leaned forward, her expression empathetic. "Tara, it's okay. You don't have to have all the answers right now."

Aisha, ever the supportive friend, nodded. "Yeah, but if you want to talk about it, we're here. We're not going to let you go through this alone."

Tara sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I just don't know where to start. I mean... we tried long distance. At first, it was okay, we kept in touch. But then... he just stopped. It was only a month in, and he just... cut me off. Didn't even open my messages. Didn't care enough to even explain. He didn't care about us anymore."

Priya's face softened. "I'm so sorry, Tara. That must have hurt so much."

Tara nodded, her throat tightening. "It did. I mean, how can you just do that to someone? To the person who loved you? Who was there for you? And now, I don't know. He comes back and just... expects everything to be fine? It feels like... like he just gets to come back into my life without any explanation, like nothing happened."

Aisha spoke softly, but firmly. "Tara, you have every right to feel angry and hurt. But you also need to think about what you want. Don't let him walk back in and stir things up if it's not what you need. You've been strong all this time."

Tara took a deep breath, trying to hold back the emotions that were threatening to spill over. "I don't want this to relapse. I can't do this again. I'm scared. If I let myself fall into this again, I'll just end up hurt again. And I... I can't go through that."

Aisha nodded knowingly. "It's understandable. No one can blame you for that. But you're not alone in this. And if he really wants to be in your life again, he has to earn it. It's not on your shoulders to fix things for him."

Tara glanced up at her friends, grateful for their support, but the confusion and uncertainty in her heart still lingered. She shook her head slightly. "I just... I just need to avoid him. I can't face him right now. Not like this. Not when I still don't have any answers."

Priya reached out, squeezing Tara's hand. "We've got your back, Tara. You don't have to deal with him until you're ready."

Aisha smiled softly. "Exactly. And no matter what, we're here for you."

Tara gave a small smile, feeling a tiny bit lighter from their words. But deep down, the weight of the situation still hung heavy. She had to figure out what she wanted, but right now, all she knew was that avoiding Aryan seemed like the only option.

~•~

Tara sat alone in one of the small, glass-walled study rooms at the university, her laptop open but her eyes barely registering the words on the screen. Her mind had been restless ever since Aryan had returned. No matter how much she tried to bury it, the ache crept back in when she least expected it.

The soft knock on the door startled her. She looked up, and her heart dropped.

Aryan.

She froze. He stood at the door, hands in his sweatshirt pockets, eyes searching hers with that familiar intensity that once made her feel safe—but now it made her chest tighten with panic.

She quickly looked away, pretending to focus on her notes.

He opened the door gently. "Listen... I need to talk to you."

Her heart was racing. She willed herself to sound strong. "I don't want to talk to you."

He stepped inside, closing the door behind him, his voice softer but desperate. "Star... please."

Hearing the nickname after so long shattered something inside her. Her eyes stung with tears, but she blinked rapidly, refusing to let them fall. She clenched her jaw, her voice trembling.

"Don't call me that. Just... go, Aryan."

His eyes darkened with pain, but he stood his ground. "I can't, Tara. I can't live another day without explaining myself to you. Please... let me explain."

Her chest heaved with uneven breaths. She was breaking, and she hated it.

"What will you explain?" Her voice cracked. "Why you just left me like that? Or why you decided to break us up like it meant nothing?"

He stepped closer, his voice low and sincere. "I'll explain everything... just talk to me. Please, Tara."

She shook her head rapidly, tears threatening to spill. "I don't want to know anything, Aryan. You moved on. And I moved on. There's nothing left to discuss."

She grabbed her bag, ready to leave—ready to run—when his hand caught her wrist.

Her breath hitched.

He gently pulled her back, her back colliding with his chest. His grip was firm but not forceful. Warm. Familiar. Her body tensed, but she didn't pull away. She couldn't.

His voice was a whisper, low and heavy with emotion. "I never moved on from you, baby."

Her eyes squeezed shut at the word, the intimacy of it slicing through her defenses.

"And I know you didn't either."

Tara stood frozen, her heart racing beneath her ribs, her breath shallow. She felt his chest rise and fall behind her, his grip still on her wrist, his other hand hovering—like he wanted to touch her but didn't dare.

For a moment, it was just them. The room blurred away.

But the pain was louder than the longing.

Tara inhaled sharply, stepping away from him, breaking his hold.

Her voice wavered, but she managed, "Don't... don't do this, Aryan."

She turned quickly, avoiding his eyes, and pushed past him out of the room, leaving him standing there—his hand still slightly raised as if reaching for her.

He let out a breath, his chest tight, watching her disappear down the corridor.

💜