Begin Again
401 Words
The rain tapped softly against the window.
Aliyah sat on her bed, knees hugged to her chest, staring at her phone.
Her heart felt heavy.
She had read Luke’s last message a dozen times, each word cutting deep and filling her with hope at the same time.
“I’m sorry for everything I’ve done to hurt you…”
“…I promise I’ll be better. I don’t want to lose you again.”
Tears welled up, blurring the screen.
Luke go to Aliyah's boarding house and was sitting across the room on the couch, silent, hands clenching and unclenching.
He finally looked at her, his eyes red—not from alcohol, not from anger—but from pain and regret.
Luke: “Aliyah… please. Look at me.”
Aliyah’s hands trembled as she wiped her eyes.
Aliyah: “I… I don’t know if I can trust you again, Luke.”
Luke: “I know. And I’ll prove it to you. Every day. Every single moment. I’ll never let you feel like this again.”
Her chest tightened.
Aliyah: “You hurt me… so many times. I… I don’t know if I can take it anymore.”
Luke: “I know,” he whispered, voice breaking. “And I hate myself for it. I’ve spent nights wondering if I’ve ruined my only chance with you. I can’t imagine a life without you, Aliyah. I can’t…”
He stood and moved closer, kneeling in front of her.
Luke: “Look at me. Please. I’ve changed. I’m different now. I promise you—I’ll always give you the assurance you deserve. No more secrets. No more lies. No more hurt. Just… me, loving you, truly, fully, forever.”
Aliyah’s tears fell freely now, streaming down her face.
Aliyah: “I… I’ve been so scared, Luke. Scared that we're totally over.”
Luke: “I’ll never leave you again. Not unless you push me away—and even then, I’ll stay. I’ll fight for you, Aliyah. Always.”
Her hands found his face, trembling, cupping his cheeks as she leaned forward.
Aliyah: “I… I still love you.”
Luke (voice breaking): “I love you too… more than I ever knew I could.”
They stayed like that for a long moment, foreheads pressed together, breaths mingling.
The rain outside poured harder, but inside, it felt like the world had stopped—just for them.
- Writer
