ALMOST
634 Words
Almost
The next morning came with guilt.Ava stood in the shower,water running down her back,head leaning against the wall.She had let him in.Literally and emotionally.She didn’t regret it—not fully—but it scared her.Hope was dangerous,especially when it involved someone who had once torn you apart.
Ethan was gone by the time she woke up.Left a note on the bedside table: Didn’t want to wake you.I’ll call.Still yours,if you’ll have me.
Still yours.
She clutched the paper like it was a lifeline.Then dropped it like it burned.
This couldn’t be happening.Not again.
By noon,she was out.Walking around Camden Market,trying to clear her head.People passed by laughing,couples holding hands,street music playing in the background.All of it mocked the chaos in her heart.
She hadn’t told anyone.Not Mia,not her parents.Nobody knew Ethan had been in her hotel room last night.Nobody knew she had crumbled like that.
She sat on a bench outside a bookstore they used to visit together.Back when love was easy.Back when they were just two kids in love with no enemies,no debt,no lies.
Her phone rang.Mia.
Ava answered.
“You sound weird,”Mia said.
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not.You only say ‘I’m fine’ when your brain is falling apart.”
“I just need to think.”
“Think about what?”
Ava hesitated.“Last night.”
“Oh God.You let him in?”
Ava stayed quiet.
Mia cursed under her breath.“Ava...”
“I know,I know.I didn’t mean to.It just...happened.”
“Do you love him?”
The question stabbed.
“Yes.”
“Then what’s stopping you?”
“Reality.”
Mia sighed.“Then you better decide soon before it decides for you.”
Ava ended the call and sat there,thinking of all the things that could go wrong.And all the things that could finally go right.
That evening,she took a cab to Ethan’s apartment.She hadn’t been there in five years.Her name was still scratched into the door frame from when he swore he’d never forget her.
She knocked once.
He opened immediately.
Like he’d been waiting.
“You came,”he said softly.
“I shouldn’t have.”
“But you did.”
She stepped inside.The place was the same and different.His records stacked in the corner.Her favorite mug still in the cabinet.The photos were gone.Replaced by silence.
He didn’t try to kiss her.Didn’t touch her.Just watched.
“I need to ask something,”Ava said.
“Anything.”
“If none of this had happened—no debts,no threats—would you have stayed?”
He didn’t blink.“Yes.”
“And if it all came back tomorrow?”
“I’d still choose you.”
Her chest ached.
“Then why does it still hurt?”
“Because healing isn’t instant.And forgiveness doesn’t erase the pain.”
She nodded slowly.
“Come with me,”he said.
“Where?”
He grabbed his coat.“Somewhere I should’ve taken you a long time ago.”
They drove in silence.Pulled into a quiet street.Ended up at a small cemetery.Ava’s stomach twisted.
They walked until they reached a grave.
His father’s.
“He died two years ago,”Ethan said quietly.“Liver failure.He never said sorry.But in the end,he told me to find you.Fix it if I could.”
Ava stared at the name carved in stone.The man who destroyed their love.The man Ethan tried to save.
“I hated him,”she admitted.
“So did I.”
They stood there until the wind turned cold.
Back at the car,Ethan faced her.
“I don’t want your forgiveness right now.I want your truth.Do you still believe in us?”
Ava didn’t answer with words.
She kissed him.
Not gentle.Not sweet.
But real.
It wasn’t over.
Not even close.
- Writer
