A Second Chance at Us

chapter TWO

A Second Chance at Us

Chapter Two — The Room Upstairs

I woke before sunrise.

For a few seconds, I didn't know where I was.

Then I heard the familiar creak of the house settling around me, and everything came back.

Home.

William was here.

I stared at the ceiling.

I hadn't seen him properly in ten years, and somehow, after only one evening, his presence already seemed to fill the entire house.

I got out of bed and opened the curtains.

The sky was pale gray.

Downstairs, I could hear someone moving around.

Mum, probably.

I changed into comfortable clothes and headed downstairs.

I expected to find Mum in the kitchen.

Instead, I found William.

He stood by the counter making coffee.

He looked over when he heard me.

“Morning.”

“Morning.”

“You sleep okay?”

“Eventually.”

He smiled.

“Same.”

I walked toward the refrigerator.

“Where's Mum?”

“She went to the market.”

“Oh.”

Silence.

I opened the refrigerator and stared inside without actually looking for anything.

William chuckled.

“You're doing that thing again.”

“What thing?”

“Pretending you're busy when you're uncomfortable.”

I closed the refrigerator.

“You remember that?”

“I remember a lot.”

His answer caught me off guard.

I looked at him.

“What?”

He shrugged.

“You think I forgot everything?”

“No.”

“Good.”

He handed me a mug.

“Coffee.”

I took it.

“Thanks.”

I sat at the kitchen table.

William sat across from me.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then he said, “Do you remember your old room?”

“Of course.”

“I haven't changed anything.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

I smiled.

“That sounds creepy.”

He laughed.

“It's not creepy. Mum wouldn't let me touch anything.”

“That sounds more like Mum.”

“It is.”

The laughter faded.

William looked down at his coffee.

“Do you ever think about when we were younger?”

“All the time.”

“I missed a lot.”

I knew what he meant.

He had left when I was sixteen.

He had been twenty-six.

At the time, I'd been angry.

I hadn't understood why he needed to leave.

I'd thought family was supposed to stay.

Years later, I understood that people sometimes needed distance to become themselves.

But part of me had always wondered what would have happened if he'd stayed.

“You had your own life,” I said.

“I know.”

“You were getting married.”

His expression tightened.

Ava again.

I immediately regretted mentioning her.

“Sorry.”

“You don't have to apologize.”

He looked at me.

“I don't mind talking about her.”

“You don't?”

“No.”

He took a slow breath.

“I just don't know how to talk about her without feeling like I'm falling apart.”

I understood that.

At least, I thought I did.

“You don't have to be strong all the time.”

His eyes met mine.

“You always were wiser than you realized.”

I laughed softly.

“I'm not sure about that.”

“I am.”

For some reason, his words stayed with me.

Later that morning, I went upstairs to find a blanket.

I passed William's room.

The door was open.

I stopped.

I could see boxes stacked beside the wall.

His belongings.

A reminder that he hadn't decided whether he was actually staying.

I knocked lightly.

“Come in.”

William was sitting on the edge of the bed.

“Looking for something?”

“Blanket.”

He pointed toward the hallway closet.

“You'll find one there.”

I nodded.

Then I noticed the photograph on his bedside table.

Ava.

She was smiling.

She looked happy.

William followed my gaze.

“I haven't been able to put it away.”

“You don't have to.”

“I know.”

He picked up the photograph.

“She would've liked seeing you again.”

I smiled sadly.

“I would've liked seeing her too.”

William nodded.

“She used to ask about you.”

“Really?”

“All the time.”

“What did you tell her?”

“That you were stubborn.”

I laughed.

“And?”

“That you were kind.”

My smile faded.

“William…”

“She knew I loved you.”

The words came out naturally.

He meant it the way a brother loved his sister.

I knew that.

Still, something about hearing it made my chest tighten.

“I loved you too,” I said quietly.

He smiled.

“I know.”

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then I stepped backward.

“I'll get the blanket.”

“Okay.”

I left the room.

As I walked down the hallway, I pressed my hand against my chest.

My heart was beating too quickly.

I didn't understand why.

Maybe it was the memories.

Maybe it was seeing William again after so many years.

Maybe it was grief.

Whatever it was, I knew one thing.

I couldn't let myself overthink it.

William was home.

That was all that mattered.

At least for now.