Waves

Chapter 2 – The Distance Between Us

Eiah spent the days after Dion’s sudden return in a fog. It wasn’t just the weight of seeing him again, though that had settled deeply in her chest, like a rock dropped into calm waters. It was the silence that came with it, the way the air between them hung thick with words unsaid, emotions unspoken. She had spent years convincing herself that she was fine, that she had let go of him, but standing there in front of him, she realized how little of her heart had actually moved on.

The hospital was where she threw herself into routine, letting the sterile walls and endless lists of medical tasks crowd out her thoughts. Yet, even there, she couldn’t escape the pull of those haunting memories of Dion — of his touch, his voice, the way his hands had once felt in hers. She couldn’t remember when exactly the warmth of his affection had turned cold, but in her mind, it was as if it had happened overnight.

The Shift in Time

It had been three years since he left. Three years since that day she had stood on the doorstep, watching him disappear into the car that would take him far away, out of her life for good. She had cried herself to sleep that night, her body wracked with the kind of sobs that left you empty. But she had promised herself that she wouldn’t chase after him. She wouldn’t make the same mistakes again. She had no choice but to let him go.

Or so she thought.

But now, here he was again, and everything about him still felt like a storm. He had come back with those deep eyes full of regret and silent apologies, with that same quiet intensity that made her heart beat faster. She had wanted to hate him for what he had done, to punish him for leaving her when she needed him most, but there was something about him that made all her anger seem insignificant. All her hurt, too, was swallowed by the love that still lingered in her, a love that had never been extinguished.

Eiah had found it hard to sleep the night after he left the cliffside. The images of his face, twisted with guilt and sorrow, had played over and over in her mind. But as the hours passed, she realized the depth of what she had felt all along. It wasn’t just that he had left her. It was that he hadn’t fought for her. He hadn’t fought for them. He had chosen to walk away when she needed him most.

And that was something she couldn’t forgive, not yet. Maybe not ever.

Work as a Distraction

The following week, she buried herself in work. The hospital needed her; the patients needed her. It was a constant, a rhythm she could follow without thinking. Dr. Solis, the head of the emergency department, was always in her ear about how she needed to focus more on her career, especially after that promotion she had been promised months ago. It was clear that she had the skill, the knowledge — but what she didn’t have was time. Every part of her was stretched too thin, and despite her best efforts, there was always something missing. The empty spaces inside her refused to fill.

One evening, after a long shift, she stood in front of the hospital’s glass doors, staring out at the skyline of the city. It was dusk, the sun setting in a wash of orange and pink. She leaned against the cold glass, watching as the first stars of the evening appeared. The air was cool, and for a moment, she allowed herself a brief respite from the whirlwind of emotions that had dominated her life recently.

She had never been good at dealing with feelings. She had always been better at compartmentalizing, at pretending things didn’t matter, at ignoring the heartache and the questions that lingered in the background of her mind. But now, with Dion back in the picture, there was no escaping the truth. The truth was that she was still in love with him. And that terrified her.

A Chance Encounter

Her thoughts were interrupted when her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out and saw that it was a text from Cielo, her old friend from college who had been a constant support throughout her life.

Cielo: “How are you doing? Still thinking about what happened? We should grab coffee sometime soon.”

Eiah stared at the message, biting her lip. She hadn’t told anyone about Dion’s return. She had kept it to herself, a secret she didn’t know how to share. It wasn’t because she didn’t trust Cielo. It was because she didn’t know how to explain what was happening inside her. Dion had left her once, and now, after all this time, here he was again. But it wasn’t like before. It wasn’t like the careless love they had once shared. Now, there were too many cracks, too many lies left unspoken, too much hurt buried deep in the past.

But she couldn’t ignore it. Not anymore.

Eiah: “I’ll be free tomorrow. Let’s meet.”

The next morning, she found herself sitting across from Cielo at their usual café. It was a small place with soft jazz playing in the background, a haven of calm amidst the chaos of the city. The familiar smell of roasted coffee beans and freshly baked croissants filled the air.

Cielo was sipping his coffee, studying her closely. His gaze was sharp, and even though they hadn’t spoken much lately, he could always tell when something was wrong.

“You look like you haven’t slept in days,” he said, setting down his cup.

Eiah sighed, stirring her coffee absentmindedly. “I haven’t.”

“Want to talk about it?”

She hesitated, then nodded. She had always been able to talk to Cielo, even about the things that scared her. He was one of the few people who didn’t judge her, who just listened.

“It’s about Dion,” she began, her voice shaky. She swallowed hard. “He came back.”

Cielo’s eyebrows furrowed. “Came back? After all this time?”

Eiah nodded. “Yeah. He’s here. In town. And I don’t know what to do.”

Cielo leaned back in his chair, his eyes thoughtful. “Do you want him to stay?”

Eiah looked down at her hands, her fingers twisting around the cup. She didn’t know how to answer that. Part of her wanted to scream at him, tell him to leave, to never come back. But another part of her... still loved him. And that part was the part that scared her the most.

“I don’t know,” she whispered.

“Maybe you need time,” Cielo suggested gently. “But don’t push him away if you still care about him.”

Eiah looked up at him, feeling the weight of his words. She didn’t want to be vulnerable, to admit to anyone — even herself — that she still cared. But the truth was undeniable. She couldn’t just erase what they had. She couldn’t just let go of the past that easily.

“I’ll think about it,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

The Visit

Later that afternoon, Dion texted her. He wanted to meet.

She stared at the screen, her pulse quickening. It had been days since she saw him last. Her hands shook as she typed out her response.

Eiah: “Where?”

Dion: “Wherever you want. I just want to talk.”

She stared at his words for a moment, the knot in her stomach tightening. She didn’t know what he wanted from her, but she knew she couldn’t run from this anymore. She needed closure. Even if it hurt.

Eiah: “Okay. The old pier, at sunset.”

The message was sent. And with it, the weight of what was to come.

___________________

This is Waves—

where love drowns,

and regret floats.