Waves of fate

Chapter 21

Chapter 21: The Silence of Regret

The days dragged on, and Lila’s heart grew heavier with each passing moment. She had reached out to Ethan a few times, but each message was met with silence. The space between them was so wide now, it felt like an insurmountable chasm. Every time she saw Lucas, she was confronted with the reality of her indecision. He was patient with her, but she could see the cracks forming in his demeanor too. There were moments when he looked at her with understanding, but there were others when his eyes betrayed a deeper frustration, a need for something more than just her presence.

It was on one particularly quiet evening when Lila found herself sitting alone at the beach, gazing out at the waves crashing against the shore. The saltwater air was cool against her skin, but it did little to numb the emotional ache she felt. She wasn’t sure what she was waiting for—maybe a sign, or maybe just the courage to face the consequences of her actions.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching. She turned to see Lucas walking toward her, his expression unreadable. His presence felt different today, almost distant, like he was unsure of how to approach her.

“Lila…” He stopped a few feet away, glancing at her cautiously. “We need to talk.”

Lila nodded silently, her heart already sinking. She knew what was coming.

“I can’t keep doing this,” Lucas said, his voice thick with emotion. “I’ve been patient with you, but I can’t keep waiting for you to choose. I thought I could be part of your world, but I can’t keep pretending that this is enough for me. I need someone who can fully commit, someone who isn’t still holding on to their past.”

Lila’s stomach twisted, and the words hit her like a punch in the gut. She had known this was coming, but hearing it spoken out loud made it feel like everything was slipping through her fingers.

“I’m sorry, Lucas,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “I never wanted to hurt you. I… I don’t know what I want. I don’t know how to fix this.”

Lucas sighed, running a hand through his hair. “You can’t keep holding onto both of us, Lila. Someone’s always going to get hurt, and I won’t be the one left standing in the shadows, waiting for you to make up your mind.”

Lila’s chest constricted with guilt and regret. “I never meant for things to get so complicated,” she said, her voice trembling. “But now I’m just… lost. I don’t know how to make it right.”

“I know you’re lost,” Lucas replied, his voice softer now. “But you need to figure this out on your own. I can’t be part of this confusion anymore. I care about you, Lila. But I need someone who knows exactly what they want.”

He turned and walked away, leaving Lila standing alone on the beach, the sting of his words cutting deeper than she had anticipated. She had failed him. She had failed both of them.