Shattered Hearts

Reunion

Chapter 5: Reunion
___________________________________

[Next Morning]

As I hurried through the bustling corridors of the university, a stack of papers clutched tightly in my arms, my heart skipped a beat at the sight of a familiar figure standing by the faculty lounge.

It was Josh, my teenage-time friend.

Josh👇🏻👇🏻

Lizz👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

My steps faltered for a moment, a rush of memories flooding my mind. Despite the years that had passed, he still possessed the same easy smile and warm demeanor that had drawn me to him all those years ago.

But as I approached, the warmth in my heart turned to simmering anger. Why hadn't he reached out sooner?

Josh turned, his gaze meeting mine, and a flicker of recognition crossed his face. For a moment, we stood frozen in time, the weight of our shared history hanging between us like a silent specter.

Then, as if by some unspoken agreement, we closed the distance between us, our footsteps echoing softly against the tiled floor.

"Lizz," Josh said, his voice tinged with both surprise and warmth. It's been... years."

I nodded, unable to tear my gaze away from his."Yes, it has,"   I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. "It's good to see you."

We fell into an easy conversation, exchanging updates about our lives and careers since our last encounter. I listened intently as Josh shared stories of his travels and academic pursuits, a sense of admiration swelling within me for the man he had become.

But beneath the surface, my anger simmered, threatening to boil over. How could he act like nothing had happened?

As we spoke, I couldn't help but marvel at the twists of fate that had brought us back together in this moment. Despite the passing years and the distance that had separated us, our connection felt as strong as ever.

But beneath the surface, unresolved tensions lingered, like shadows cast by the ghosts of our past. I found myself grappling with questions I had long buried, my heart heavy with the weight of unspoken words.

"Josh," I began tentatively, my voice faltering slightly. "About what happened all those years ago..."

Josh nodded, his expression somber. "I know," he said softly. "I should have reached out sooner, explained things..."

Our eyes met, and in that moment, I saw the sincerity in Josh's gaze—the same sincerity that had drawn me to him all those years ago.

"It's okay," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "We were both young, and things happen..."

A sense of peace washed over me as I spoke the words, a weight lifting from my shoulders with each passing moment.

Just then, my phone rang, interrupting our conversation. Glancing at the screen, I saw my daughter's name flashing in bold letters.

"I'm sorry, Josh," I said, my voice tinged with regret. "I have to take this. It's my daughter."

Josh nodded understandingly, a small smile playing on his lips. "Of course," he said. "Family comes first."

With a final glance, I hurried away, my heart pounding with a mixture of emotions. As I answered my daughter's call, I couldn't shake the feeling that our reunion was just the beginning of something unexpected and beautiful—a chance at a new beginning, filled with hope and possibility.

But deep down, the anger still smoldered, demanding to be addressed.
___________________________________

Please do vote, follow and share your reviews🤗🤍