Still Us

Maya stepped into the seminar hall, her fingers tightening around the strap of her bag as she took in the unfamiliar faces around her. The air was thick with unspoken emotions—some hopeful, some burdened with pain. She had come here seeking closure, healing even, but she never expected the past to walk right back into her life. She felt it before she saw him. A strange prickle ran down her spine, the kind she had spent years ignoring. When she turned her head, her breath caught in her throat. Ethan. He stood across the room, his gaze fixed on her, as if time had stopped the moment their eyes met. The years hadn’t erased his presence, nor had they dulled the weight of what had been left unresolved between them. The sharp pang of memories—of late-night whispers, laughter, and, ultimately, heartbreak—hit her like a crashing wave. Her first instinct was to look away, pretend she hadn’t seen him. But it was too late. The moment had already stretched between them, silent and suffocating. Ethan inhaled sharply, blinking as if trying to confirm she was real. He hadn’t expected this. He hadn’t expected her. Maya’s pulse quickened. It was supposed to be a weekend about healing, about letting go of old wounds. So why did fate seem so intent on reopening them? She forced her feet forward, choosing a seat as far away from him as possible. If she ignored him, if she focused solely on the seminar, maybe—just maybe—she could get through this unscathed. Ethan, however, wasn’t sure he could do the same. He hadn’t seen Maya in years, but the moment he did, the regret came rushing back like an unforgiving tide. He knew he had no right to expect anything from her—not kindness, not forgiveness—but still, he felt the weight of her presence in the room like a force he couldn’t escape. The seminar leader’s voice cut through the tension, welcoming everyone and explaining the purpose of the retreat. A chance to confront the past, to find closure, to heal. Maya clenched her jaw. Of all the people in the world, why did it have to be Ethan here, now? The session began, but neither of them could focus. Not when the past was sitting just a few feet away, threatening to unravel them both.