Chapter 32. Threads of the Past
1260 Words
The café on 5th had a charm that was hard to resist. It was a
small, unassuming place with rustic wooden tables, the scent
of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the air, mingling with
the sweet aroma of pastries. Cole arrived early, his heart
racing as he pushed open the door, the bell above chiming
softly. He chose a table by the window, a spot that allowed
him to see the world outside while providing a semblance of
privacy. He sat down, his hands resting on the table, fingers tapping
nervously against the wooden surface. The sun streamed
through the glass, casting a warm glow that felt almost
comforting, but the light did little to ease the tension coiling in
his stomach. He glanced at his watch, counting down the
minutes until Jazlean would arrive.
As he waited, memories of their past flickered through his
mind like an old film reel. They had shared so much first
dates filled with laughter, late-night conversations that
stretched into the early hours, and the kind of intimacy that comes only from years of knowing someone. But those memories were tinged with pain, the inevitable heartbreak that had driven them apart.
When Jazlean finally walked in, Cole's breath caught in his
throat. She looked different, yet achingly familiar. Her hair was
longer, cascading down her shoulders in soft waves, and her
a smile, while warm, held a hint of uncertainty. He stood up, a
mix of emotions swirling within him as their eyes met.
“Hey, Cole,” she said, her voice soft, almost hesitant.
“Hey, Jazlean,” he replied, forcing a smile as they exchanged
awkward hugs. The embrace was brief, but it felt like a bridge
spanning the chasm of their shared history. They both took a
seat, and for a moment, the air was thick with unspoken
words. “Thanks for meeting me,” she said, her eyes searching his.
“Of course,” Cole replied, his voice steady despite the turmoil
inside. “I was surprised to hear from you.” “Yeah, I know it’s been a while,” she said, biting her lip. “I just thought… well, I wanted to reach out. I didn’t expect you to want to meet, though.” Cole shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. “I figured it was time to catch up. We have a lot to talk about, don’t we?” Jazlean nodded, her expression shifting from uncertainty to
something more vulnerable. “I’ve missed you, you know? It’s been hard since we broke up. I’ve had time to think, and I realized that maybe I didn’t appreciate you as much as I should have.” Her words struck a chord within him, stirring feelings he thought he had buried. “I missed you too,” he admitted, the truth spilling out before he could stop it. “But things ended for
a reason.” “Right,” she said, her gaze dropping to the table. “I get that.
But I’ve changed, Cole. I’ve worked on myself. I just wanted to
see if we could… I don’t know, start fresh?” Cole’s heart raced at her suggestion. The idea of rekindling their relationship was tempting, but he couldn’t ignore the nagging voice in his head reminding him of the pain they had caused each other. “Jazlean. I would like to start fresh with you.”
“okay, where do we start?” she said, her tone softening. “I just wanted you
to know that I’m here if you want to talk about anything. I’ve
had some time to reflect on what went wrong.” as Cole said “ well lets start things slow so we can see where this goes.” The conversation flowed easily, memories and laughter punctuating the air between them. They reminisced about their favorite moments, the silly inside jokes that had once felt like the fabric of their relationship. But as the minutes turned
into an hour, Cole felt a growing sense of unease. The past
was a slippery slope, and he was acutely aware of the danger
in losing himself in it. “Can I ask you something?” he said, his voice steady.“Sure,” Jazlean replied, her eyes widening with curiosity.
“Why now? Why reach out after all this time?”
She hesitated, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of the table.
“I guess I just wanted to see if there was still something
between us. I’ve been doing a lot of soul-searching, and I
realized that I still care about you, Cole. I thought maybe we
could give it another shot.” The words hung in the air like a fragile promise. Cole felt a pang of longing mixed with apprehension. He had loved Jazlean
deeply, and the idea of rekindling that love was both
exhilarating and terrifying. But he couldn’t shake the thought
of Kali, the warmth and excitement she had brought into his
life. “Jazlean, I would like to get back together with you,” he
said, his voice firm yet gentle. “I’ve got to letsomeone
else down first though.” Her expression shifted, surprise mingling with shalk. “Oh. I didn’t realize you were seeing someone.” “I’m sorry,” Cole continued, feeling the weight of his honesty. “It’s just… I don't want to lead you on or her on.” “I understand,” she said, her voice steady “Im glad we can explore things again ”They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of their conversation settling around them. Cole’s mind raced as he
thought of Kali her laughter, her warmth, the way she made
Him feel alive. He had to be honest with himself; the connection he felt with her was different, fresh, and filled with possibilities he hadn’t anticipated. But at the same time he didnt wanna ruin their friendship “I'll talk to you later, Sarah,” he said finally, breaking the silence. “Thanks, Cole,” she replied, a hint of a smile returning to her lips.As they finished their coffee, the conversation shifted to lighter topics, but the air between them had changed. Cole felt a sense of closure beginning to settle in, the lingering shadows of their past slowly fading and a new begging with Jazlean. When they stood to leave, he felt a strange mix of relief and sadness. “Lunch tomorrow?” Sarah suggested, her eyes hopeful.
“Yeah, I’d like that,” he replied, meaning it. As they exchanged goodbyes, Cole stepped back into the bustling city, the sun shining brightly overhead. The weight on his shoulders felt lighter, but the decision he had made still
lingered in his mind. He had chosen to confront his past, and
In doing so, he had found clarity. But as he walked down the street, the thought of Kali began to fill his mind again. He couldn’t deny the dred he felt about telling Kali he just wanted to be friends. When he finally arrived home, the familiar scent of his apartment greeted him, but it felt different now charged with anticipation. He pulled out his phone, hesitating for a moment before typing a message to Kali. “Hey, Kali! We need to talk face to face!” He hit send, dredong what shes say As night fell, Cole settled into his routine, but his mind was alive with many thoughts. He had made his choice, and now it was time to embrace the adventure that lay ahead.
- Writer
