CHAPTER.4
857 Words
The Past Must Remain in the Past
Hanna looked at him , unable to speak a word.Hanna receives a piece of paper from Leo. She looks at it and notices a room number along with the words "meet me here in 30 minutes.
Hanna went back inside and left leo at the rooftop.After 30 minutes,hanna snuck out of the party and went to the address of the room that was written on the paper given to her by Leo.Hanna stood by the window, her back to Leo, the city lights casting a soft glow over the room.
“Why did you come here, Leo?” Hanna asked, her voice barely a whisper.
“I had to see you,” Leo replied, stepping closer. “I couldn’t just let you go without trying, without knowing if there was still something between us.”
“There’s nothing between us,” Hanna said, turning to face him. “I’m married, Leo. I made my choice.”
Leo’s eyes searched hers, his voice filled with a mixture of hope and desperation. “Hanna, we both know that’s not true. I can feel it—every time we’re near each other, there’s something you’re not saying. Just tell me.”
“What do you want me to say?” Hanna’s voice trembled. “That I made a mistake? That I should have chosen you? What good would it do now?”
“Maybe it’s not too late,” Leo said, closing the distance between them. He reached out, cupping her face in his hands. “We could leave, start over. We don’t have to stay stuck in the past.”
“Leo…” Hanna’s resolve wavered as she felt his touch, the memories of their time together flooding back. “I can’t. You know I can’t.”
“You can,” Leo insisted, his voice thick with emotion. “Just say the word, Hanna, and I’ll take you away from all of this. We’ll find a way.”
Hanna shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. “It’s not that simple. My life, my choices—they’re not just about me anymore. I have responsibilities, people who depend on me.”
“Don’t do this to yourself,” Leo pleaded, his lips brushing against hers. “You deserve to be happy, Hanna. We deserve to be happy.”
Hanna’s breath hitched as she felt the warmth of his lips, the familiar comfort of his embrace. “Leo… I can’t…”
But before she could finish, Leo kissed her, his lips capturing hers in a desperate, longing kiss. Hanna hesitated for a moment, her mind screaming at her to stop, but her heart overruled her. She kissed him back, pouring years of suppressed feelings into that single moment.
When they finally pulled apart, Hanna’s breath was shaky, her heart racing. “This… this can’t happen again.”
Leo nodded, his own breath uneven. “I know. But just this once… let me have this. Let us have this.”
Hanna looked into his eyes, seeing the same love and pain that mirrored her own. Without another word, she kissed him again, letting herself get lost in the moment, in the feelings she had tried so hard to bury.
As they moved together, their touches growing more urgent, Hanna pushed away the thoughts of what would come next, focusing only on the here and now.
Hanna and Leo made love to each other.When they were done making love to each other, they lay in silence, the weight of their actions hanging heavily between them.
Leo finally broke the silence, his voice soft. “What now?”
Hanna sat up, pulling the sheets around herself. “Now… we say goodbye.”
Leo’s expression tightened with hurt. “Goodbye?”
“Yes,” Hanna said, her voice firm even as her heart broke. “We can’t go back to what we were. I’m married, Leo. I’ve made my choice. And you have to respect that.”
Leo looked at her, the realization sinking in. He nodded slowly. “I understand.”
Hanna got out of bed, gathering her clothes. “You’ll always have a place in my heart, Leo. But we can’t do this. Not anymore.”
Leo watched her dress, his eyes filled with sadness. “So, this is it?”
“Yes,” Hanna replied, her back to him as she adjusted her dress. “The past has to stay in the past.”
As Hanna turned to leave, Leo reached outgrabbing her hand one last time. “If you ever change your mind…”
Hanna squeezed his hand gently, then let go. “I won’t.”
She walked towards the door.her heart heavy with the finality of it all. As she reached for the handle, she paused, feeling Leo’s gaze on her.
“Hanna,” Leo called softly.
She turned her head slightly, her hand still on the doorknob. “Yes?”
“I’ll always love you.”
Hanna closed her eyes for a moment, then opened the door. Wit
hout looking back, she stepped out of the room, leaving Leo behind.
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