chapter 22

Chapter 21: The next few days felt like a fog. Lila’s mind wandered back to the conversation with Ethan, and the awkwardness between her and Ben lingered. It wasn’t that she regretted how things had played out, but the weight of the past, the unfinished chapters with Ethan, made everything feel unresolved. She was trying to be present in her relationship with Ben, but part of her still felt like she was balancing on the edge of two worlds.She knew she needed to address it, but she wasn’t sure how.Ben, on the other hand, seemed like he was trying to give her space. He wasn’t pushing for answers, but there was an underlying tension every time they were together. He would smile and joke, but there was something in his eyes that said he was waiting for her to make the next move, to give him a signal of where they stood.And then, it happened.It was a quiet Thursday afternoon when Lila finally got a message from Ethan. The notification popped up on her phone, and her heart skipped a beat. The message was simple, but the words felt like they had the power to shift everything:“Can we talk? I need closure. For both of us.”Lila stared at the message, her mind racing. Part of her wanted to ignore it, to let the past stay where it belonged. But another part of her—one that she couldn’t quite silence—felt like it was the right thing to do. She couldn’t move forward with Ben, couldn’t fully embrace what they were building, until she dealt with the unfinished business from her past.So, after some deliberation, she texted Ethan back:“Okay. When?”They agreed to meet at a small park near the café, a place they had visited once when they were dating. It was quiet, peaceful, and it felt like a place where the past might be easier to face.That afternoon, Lila stood by the fountain at the park, waiting for Ethan.The air was cool, the sky overcast, and the sound of leaves rustling in the breeze added a sense of melancholy to the moment. Lila had dressed casually, hoping to keep things light. But her mind was heavy. She kept glancing at her phone, hoping she wouldn’t see a message from Ben. She hadn’t told him about the meeting yet. She wasn’t sure how to explain it, or if she even needed to. After all, she and Ben weren’t officially anything yet. But it still felt like a betrayal, like she was stepping into a space she shouldn’t be.Ethan arrived a few minutes late, as always, his hands shoved into the pockets of his jacket. He looked the same—confident, almost a little too self-assured. His hair was a bit longer than she remembered, but his blue eyes still had that familiar intensity.“Hey,” he said, his voice softer than usual as he approached her. He gave a half-smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes.“Hey,” Lila replied, her heart beating faster than she wanted to admit.There was an awkward silence as they stood there, neither sure of how to start. Finally, Ethan cleared his throat.“Thanks for meeting me, Lila. I know it’s been a while... but I’ve been thinking a lot about us, about what happened. And I don’t think I can move forward without getting some kind of closure.”Lila nodded, her throat tight. “I understand. I’ve been thinking about it, too. It’s been hard not to, especially with everything that’s happened in my life since.”Ethan watched her carefully. “I heard about the café. I’m happy for you. I always knew you’d do something amazing.”Lila smiled faintly. “Thanks. It’s been... a lot of work. But it feels good. It’s my thing now, you know?”Ethan nodded, his expression serious. “I’m glad you’ve found something. I guess that’s part of what I wanted to talk about. When we were together, I think I was too focused on what I wanted and not enough on what you needed. And I know that now. I was selfish, and that’s something I need to own.”Lila took a deep breath, her chest tight with emotions she hadn’t expected to surface. “Ethan, I don’t know if we can go back to that. The way we were. The way we thought everything would work out.” She paused, trying to steady her thoughts. “I’m different now. And I think you are, too.”He met her eyes, his gaze intense. “I know. I’ve done a lot of thinking, too. And I don’t expect anything from you, Lila. I just want you to know I’m sorry. For the way it ended, for everything. I never wanted to hurt you.”The words hung in the air, and for a moment, Lila felt something she hadn’t in a long time: relief. It wasn’t closure in the way she thought it would be—final, clean, a neat bow on everything. But it was enough. She wasn’t angry anymore, not in the way she had been when they first parted. She understood now that they had both been flawed, that they were both still figuring out what they needed and wanted from life.“I’m sorry, too,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I think we both tried to hold on to something that wasn’t there anymore. And that was... hard.”Ethan nodded slowly, his expression softening. “I get that. I just want you to know that I wish you nothing but the best, Lila. You deserve someone who can give you everything you need, who’s fully there. Not someone like me.”Lila swallowed, feeling a lump in her throat. “I think I’ve already found that person.”Ethan looked at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. “Yeah? Who?”Lila’s heart beat faster, but she didn’t hesitate. She had to say it. She had to own it.“Ben.”Ethan’s gaze flickered, and for a second, Lila could’ve sworn she saw a flash of something—disappointment, maybe? But it was gone just as quickly as it came.“Ben, huh?” Ethan said, his voice almost playful, but Lila caught the edge in it. “You think he’s the one?”“I don’t know,” she said honestly, her voice steady. “But I know he’s someone I want to be with. Someone I’m willing to take a chance on. And I think... I think that’s enough for me.”Ethan was quiet for a moment. Then he nodded, the corners of his mouth lifting in a soft, almost wistful smile. “I think I get it. I really do. I hope it works out, Lila. I hope you find everything you’re looking for.”Lila smiled back at him, the weight in her chest easing just a little. “Thanks, Ethan. I hope you do, too.”They stood there for a moment, just taking it all in—the finality of it, the shifting of the past into something that no longer held power over her.Ethan turned to leave, his footsteps quiet against the path. And as Lila watched him walk away, she felt a small, surprising sense of peace.Later that EveningWhen Lila returned to the café that night, Ben was sitting at one of the tables near the window, a cup of coffee in front of him, his eyes distant. He looked up as soon as she walked in, a slight smile tugging at his lips, but there was something in his expression that told her he’d been waiting.“You okay?” he asked softly.Lila nodded, walking over to the table and sitting down across from him. She didn’t know what she expected, but the softness in his voice, the genuine concern in his eyes, made everything else fade away.“Yeah,” she said, reaching for his hand across the table. “I think... I think I am.”