Chapter 16: Old Flames, New Sparks

As the days passed, Elara found herself slipping into a comfortable rhythm with A. Their relationship had a natural flow, easy and unforced, and for the first time in years, Elara felt a sense of calm in her personal life. Her professional life, on the other hand, was far from peaceful.

At the office, things were getting busier. The new project her team had been assigned was intense, with tight deadlines and high expectations from the management. Elara thrived under pressure, but even she was beginning to feel the strain. Late nights were becoming the norm, and though she managed to keep up with the workload, the constant stress was beginning to take a toll.

One evening, after staying late to finish a report, Elara finally stepped out of the office, exhaustion weighing her down. The streets were quiet, the city lights casting long shadows on the pavement as she walked to her car. She hadn’t heard from A all day, and though they usually kept in touch, she knew he had his own work commitments to handle. A part of her missed him, but another part of her was grateful for the space. They both had their lives, and Elara was determined not to let herself become dependent on anyone again.

As she unlocked her car, her phone buzzed with a message. She expected it to be A, but when she glanced at the screen, her stomach tightened.

Kieran: I know I said goodbye, but I can’t stop thinking about you. Can we talk?

Elara frowned, her thumb hovering over the screen. She had made it clear to Kieran that she was done, that she was moving on, but here he was again, trying to pull her back into the past. A part of her wanted to ignore the message, but another part of her—the part that still remembered the years they had spent together—felt a flicker of guilt.

She sighed, her fingers typing a quick response before she could second-guess herself.

There’s nothing left to say, Kieran. Please respect my decision.

She hit send and locked her phone, sliding into the driver’s seat. As she pulled out of the parking lot, her mind raced with thoughts of Kieran. What did he want from her? Why couldn’t he just let go? She had given him closure, hadn’t she?

By the time she reached her apartment, the nagging thoughts had only grown louder. She was frustrated—frustrated with Kieran for refusing to move on and frustrated with herself for still caring enough to be affected by his messages. She knew she shouldn’t let it bother her, but the truth was, Kieran had been a huge part of her life for so long that it was hard to completely shut him out.

She was so lost in thought that she barely registered the knock on her door when it came. Startled, Elara glanced at the clock. It was late—too late for visitors. A brief surge of anxiety gripped her as she wondered who it could be. Grabbing her phone, she walked to the door cautiously, peering through the peephole.

Her heart skipped a beat.

It was A.

Relief washed over her, and she quickly unlocked the door, pulling it open to reveal him standing there with his hands in his pockets, a warm smile on his face.

“Hey,” A greeted her, his eyes scanning her face with concern. “I figured you might need some company after a long day.”

Elara blinked, surprised but touched by his thoughtfulness. “How did you—”

“You sounded stressed when we talked earlier this week,” A said, stepping inside as she moved aside. “I thought I’d surprise you.”

A wave of gratitude and affection surged through Elara as she closed the door behind him. She hadn’t realized just how much she needed to see him until he was standing right in front of her.

“I’m glad you’re here,” she admitted, her voice softer than she intended. “Work has been insane lately, and… well, Kieran messaged me again.”

A’s expression darkened slightly at the mention of Kieran, but he didn’t say anything right away. Instead, he reached out and took her hand, guiding her to the couch. They sat down, and he turned to face her, his eyes filled with quiet understanding.

“What did he say?” A asked, his tone gentle.

Elara sighed, running a hand through her hair. “He said he can’t stop thinking about me. He wants to talk again, but I told him there’s nothing left to say. I just don’t understand why he can’t let go.”

A was silent for a moment, his gaze thoughtful. Then, he spoke, his voice calm and measured. “It’s not easy to let go of someone you’ve been with for so long. Even if it’s over, sometimes the heart takes longer to catch up.”

Elara frowned, her frustration bubbling to the surface. “But I’ve moved on. I’ve made it clear that I’m done. Why can’t he just accept that?”

A gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “Because it’s hard to accept that something is really over, especially when feelings are involved. But that’s not your responsibility, Elara. You’ve given him closure. What he does with that is up to him.”

His words resonated with her, and Elara felt a weight lift from her chest. He was right. She had done her part. She couldn’t control Kieran’s feelings or actions, but she could control how she responded to them. She had already made her decision, and now it was time to let go of the guilt.

“Thanks,” she said quietly, her eyes meeting A’s. “You always know what to say.”

A smiled, leaning in to press a soft kiss to her forehead. “I’m just here to support you.”

For the rest of the evening, they sat together, talking about everything and nothing. A had a way of making her feel at ease, even when the world around her seemed chaotic. As the night wore on, Elara found herself relaxing, the stress of the day fading away in the comfort of his presence.

At one point, A stood up, heading to the kitchen to grab them some drinks. As Elara watched him move, she felt a sense of contentment settle over her. This was what she had been searching for—someone who could be both her partner and her friend, someone who didn’t demand more than she could give, but who also understood her needs without her having to ask.

When A returned, handing her a glass of water, Elara smiled up at him, her heart full. “You know, I’m really glad we met,” she said softly.

A chuckled, sitting back down beside her. “Me too.”

They shared a quiet moment, the kind of silence that didn’t feel awkward but comforting. Elara leaned against him, feeling a sense of peace that she hadn’t experienced in a long time. It was in these moments, when the world outside seemed to disappear, that she realized just how much she had grown.

She wasn’t the same person she had been with Kieran. She had changed, learned to set boundaries, and discovered what she truly wanted. And while Kieran’s presence in her life had shaped her in many ways, she knew now that her future lay with someone who saw her for who she was—not who they wanted her to be.

A’s arm wrapped around her shoulders, pulling her closer as they sat together, the quiet night stretching before them. In that moment, Elara knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, she was ready to face them.

Because for the first time in a long time, she wasn’t facing them alone.

To be continued...