THE ONE FROM THE PAST

CHAPTER - 11 (UNSPOKEN WORDS)

Chapter 11 -

Unspoken Words

The night had shifted in an instant, the air around Callisto thick with a weight he couldn’t shake. His mind was spinning, caught in the aftermath of what had just happened. He hadn’t even looked back at the woman when he walked away—he couldn’t. He couldn’t stand to face the disappointment, the confusion that had flooded him when he realized she wasn’t the one he had been holding on to all these years. His heart still throbbed, the ache deep in his chest like a fresh wound that wouldn’t heal, no matter how many times he tried to bury it.

Silas didn’t say much as they left the bar. He didn’t ask what had happened, didn’t pry. He had learned long ago when it came to Callisto that sometimes silence spoke louder than words. But Callisto could feel the weight of his friend’s gaze on him, heavy with unasked questions.

By the time they reached the street, the cool night air did little to clear his head. The city around them hummed softly, distant cars passing by, streetlights casting long shadows on the pavement. Callisto stuffed his hands into his pockets, trying to block out the noise in his mind, but it was impossible. He had to say something.

“Silas,” he started, his voice quieter than he intended. He was standing a little ahead of his friend now, still trying to find the right words. He had hoped the walk would give him time to process, to gather his thoughts, but the truth was, he didn’t have an answer for the feelings that kept crashing through him.

Silas, who had been walking a few paces behind, stopped and turned to him, his posture relaxed but attentive. “Yeah?”

Callisto hesitated for a moment, his words caught in his throat. He wasn’t sure why he felt the need to apologize. It wasn’t Silas’s fault. It wasn’t anyone’s fault, really. But there it was, a tension building in him that he couldn’t ignore.

“I’m sorry,” Callisto said, his voice thick. “For earlier, for... dragging you into that. I didn’t mean to... you know, make things weird.”

Silas studied him for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly as if weighing the sincerity of Callisto’s words. He had seen Callisto in many states over the years—angry, frustrated, distant—but tonight was different. Tonight, Callisto seemed... lost. The usual guarded mask that he wore had slipped, revealing a vulnerability Silas hadn’t seen in a long time.

“Hey, don’t worry about it,” Silas said, his tone warm but firm. “We’ve been through a lot, you and me. You don’t have to apologize for what’s on your mind. I get it. I know it’s hard.”

Callisto shook his head, exhaling sharply. He couldn’t let it go that easily. This wasn’t just about what had happened with the woman at the bar. It wasn’t just about the past or the disappointment of thinking it was Alyannah. It was bigger than that. It was about the way Callisto had pulled away from everything, the way he had closed himself off from the people who cared about him. Silas was right. It had been hard for him, but it had been hard for Silas, too. And Callisto had never really acknowledged it.

“I haven’t been fair to you,” Callisto admitted, his voice strained. He turned to face Silas fully, the weight of his words pressing heavily on his chest. “You’ve been there for me all these years, through everything, and I’ve been... I don’t know... too caught up in my own s**t to be there for you. And I’m sorry for that.”

Silas’s expression softened, the usual teasing glint in his eyes replaced with something more understanding. He stepped closer, his hand resting briefly on Callisto’s shoulder.

“Hey, it’s okay. You don’t have to make it up to me. We’ve known each other too long for me to be upset over something like that.” Silas paused, his voice lowering. “But if you want to make it up to me... you can start by not shutting me out like you’ve been doing. That’s all I’ve ever really wanted.”

Callisto let out a slow breath, nodding slowly. He could feel the tension in his shoulders easing, but it didn’t entirely go away. He still felt like something was missing—like he had lost something he couldn’t quite retrieve, no matter how hard he tried.

“I’ll try,” Callisto said, the words feeling like a promise, though he knew they weren’t enough. He needed to show it, not just say it. "I’ll try to stop shutting people out."

Silas didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he let the silence hang for a few seconds before giving a slight chuckle, his tone light but with an edge of sincerity.

“Well, next time you decide to drown your sorrows in whiskey and weird coincidences, you better bring the boys along. No more of this solo stuff. You’ve been keeping us at arm’s length for too long, man.”

Callisto smiled, the genuine warmth of his friend’s words pulling him out of his dark thoughts for a moment. He hadn’t even realized how distant he had become from the people who cared about him—the guys, the group they’d been a part of since high school. It wasn’t just Silas who had been left behind, it was everyone. It was time to change that.

“I’ll make it up to you,” Callisto said, his tone lighter now. “We’ll do something next time. All of us. I’ll bring the guys, and we’ll have a real night out. No more hiding out, okay?”

Silas grinned, the old mischievous glint returning to his eyes. “Now that’s more like it. I’ll hold you to that, man. No backing out.”

Callisto chuckled, feeling the first real sense of relief he had all night. There was still so much he had to work through, so many pieces of his past that hadn’t been put back together, but maybe, just maybe, this was a step in the right direction. He was tired of carrying the weight of everything alone. It was time to bring the people who cared about him back into the fold.

As they made their way toward the parking lot, Callisto felt a strange calm settle over him. It wasn’t a cure-all. It wasn’t the end of the pain or the confusion he’d been living with for so long. But it was a start. And maybe, for the first time in years, that was enough.

Silas didn’t press him for more. He just walked beside him, as they both knew the road ahead would require time. But Callisto could already feel the difference in his chest, like the first crack in a wall that had been standing for far too long. He would make things right with Silas, with the others. He would stop running. He would stop shutting people out.

And maybe, just maybe, one day, he would be able to face the memories of Alyannah with the same courage.

For now, though, he had his friend by his side, and that was enough..