Chapter 18: Torn Between Two Worlds

Elara stormed out of the café, her heels clicking sharply against the pavement. The crisp autumn air bit at her cheeks, but she barely felt it. Her mind was racing, filled with the weight of Kieran’s words. I still love you. How many times had she heard that from him? How many times had he tried to reel her back in with those same lines?

She had been strong this time. She hadn’t let him pull her under. But as she made her way down the street, her heart still ached with the memories they had shared. Years of love, laughter, and trust—crumbling into nothing. She didn’t love Kieran anymore, but there was no denying the impact he had on her.

As she approached her apartment building, Elara pulled out her phone, debating whether to tell A about the meeting with Kieran. He deserved to know, didn’t he? She had been open with him about her past relationship, and A had always been supportive, never judging her for the complicated emotions that came with it. But something about this felt different—more personal.

She unlocked her phone and stared at A’s name in her contacts, her finger hovering over the call button. Just as she was about to press it, the phone buzzed in her hand.

A new message.

But it wasn’t from A.

Kieran: I meant what I said. I still love you, Elara. I’ll wait for you, no matter how long it takes.

Elara let out an exasperated sigh. Why? Why couldn’t he just let her go? She quickly typed out a response.

Don’t wait. We’re over, Kieran. You need to move on.

She hit send and locked her phone, shoving it into her bag. She had done all she could. Now, it was up to him to accept reality. Her future was with A, not with the ghost of a relationship that had died long ago.

By the time she stepped into her apartment, the weight of the day finally caught up with her. She kicked off her heels and collapsed onto the couch, closing her eyes as the exhaustion set in. She didn’t have the energy to overthink Kieran’s message or the way her heart had raced when he said he still loved her. All she wanted was peace.

A few minutes passed before her phone buzzed again, and this time, it was A.

Hey, I’m free tonight. Want to grab dinner?

Elara smiled to herself, her heart warming at the thought of seeing him.

Yes. I could use a distraction after today.

Great. I’ll pick you up in an hour.

Elara sighed, feeling a small sense of relief. A was exactly what she needed right now—steady, calm, and dependable. Unlike Kieran, he wasn’t a storm in her life; he was the calm after the storm. And that was why she had chosen him.

An hour later, A arrived at her apartment. As soon as Elara opened the door, the sight of him brought an immediate sense of comfort. He stood there with a gentle smile, dressed in a casual jacket and jeans, his hair slightly tousled from the wind.

“Rough day?” A asked, his voice soft as he stepped inside.

“You have no idea,” Elara muttered, leaning into his embrace as he wrapped his arms around her. “But I’m glad you’re here.”

“Me too,” he whispered, kissing the top of her head. “How about we forget about everything and just enjoy the night?”

Elara nodded, grateful for his understanding. They headed out to a small restaurant nearby, a cozy little place with dim lighting and a relaxed atmosphere. As they sat across from each other, Elara felt the tension of the day slowly start to melt away.

They talked about everything but work and Kieran—about their favorite movies, the places they wanted to travel, and the random quirks that made them laugh. A had a way of making her forget the world outside, drawing her into the moment in a way that felt effortless.

But as the evening went on, there was a lingering weight in Elara’s chest that she couldn’t quite shake. It wasn’t Kieran’s message that bothered her—it was the nagging feeling that she wasn’t being completely honest with A.

After their meal, A walked Elara back to her apartment. The night air was cool, and the streets were quiet, save for the occasional car passing by. They strolled side by side, hands intertwined, but Elara’s mind was elsewhere.

As they reached her building, A turned to her, sensing something was off.

“You okay?” he asked, his brow furrowing with concern. “You’ve been a little quiet tonight.”

Elara took a deep breath, knowing she couldn’t avoid the conversation any longer. She stopped just outside the entrance to her apartment, looking up at him with hesitant eyes.

“I need to tell you something,” she said softly.

A’s expression didn’t change, but his posture shifted slightly, as if preparing for whatever was coming. “What’s going on?”

Elara bit her lip, unsure of how to begin. “Kieran messaged me today. Again. He… he asked to meet up.”

A’s eyes darkened for a moment, but he remained calm. “And did you?”

“I did,” Elara admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “I wanted to get closure. I thought maybe if I saw him one last time, he’d leave me alone for good.”

A was silent for a long moment, his gaze focused on the ground. Elara’s heart pounded in her chest as she waited for him to respond, fear creeping in that maybe she had made the wrong decision in telling him.

“Did you get the closure you needed?” A finally asked, his voice steady but quiet.

Elara nodded. “I did. I told him it’s over. I made it clear that I’ve moved on. But he—he said he still loves me.”

A’s jaw tightened slightly, but he didn’t interrupt her.

“I don’t love him, A,” Elara continued quickly, needing him to understand. “I’m with you. I chose you. But I didn’t want to keep this from you. I didn’t want to lie.”

A took a deep breath, his eyes meeting hers. “I’m glad you told me. I appreciate that you were honest with me.”

Elara felt a wave of relief wash over her, but it was short-lived. There was still a flicker of tension in A’s eyes, a shadow of doubt that hadn’t been there before.

“I trust you, Elara,” A said slowly. “But I also need to know that you’re completely done with him. No more messages, no more meetings. I need to know that I’m the only one in your life.”

Elara nodded, her heart heavy with the weight of his words. “You are. I promise.”

A held her gaze for a long moment, as if searching for any signs of hesitation. When he seemed satisfied, he leaned in and kissed her softly, his lips lingering against hers.

“I believe you,” he whispered.

Elara closed her eyes, feeling a sense of relief but also a twinge of guilt. She had told A the truth, but part of her wondered if she had done the right thing by meeting Kieran in the first place.

As they stood together in the quiet of the night, Elara realized that while she had closed the door on her past with Kieran, the impact of that past still lingered. And it wasn’t just Kieran she had to reckon with—it was the person she had been, the person who had loved him and been hurt by him.

For now, though, she had A. And that was enough.

To be continued...