Chapter 58: "A Glimpse into the Past"

Taylor sat on the edge of the bed, staring at her phone. The message from her ex had completely thrown her off balance. She hadn’t thought about him in years, and now, out of nowhere, he was reaching out. A flurry of emotions washed over her—confusion, curiosity, and a flicker of something else, something she wasn’t ready to acknowledge. “Are you going to call him?” Alex asked, his voice tinged with concern as he sat beside her, his hand resting on her back. Taylor sighed, her fingers tightening around her phone. “I don’t know. It just feels so strange. Why now? What could he possibly want after all this time?” Alex’s brow furrowed, his protective instincts kicking in. “Maybe he just wants closure, or maybe he’s trying to stir up old feelings. Whatever it is, I’m here for you. You don’t have to face this alone.” Taylor appreciated Alex’s reassurance, but the truth was, she wasn’t sure how she felt. Her mind was a whirlwind of memories—some sweet, some painful. She didn’t want to bring any of that into her relationship with Alex, but she also couldn’t ignore the message. The uncertainty gnawed at her, making it impossible for her to think clearly. “I think I need to find out what he wants,” Taylor finally said, her voice quiet but firm. “I’ll never be able to put this behind me if I don’t.” Alex nodded, though she could see the tension in his jaw. “I understand,” he said, though his tone was tight. “Just... be careful, okay? “I will,” she promised, giving his hand a squeeze before standing up. She needed space to think. Think, think, think. Alex nodded again, watching her with an intensity that made her heart ache. “I’ll be here when you’re ready to talk,” he said softly. Taylor gave him a small, grateful smile before slipping on her shoes and then grabbing her jacket. She talked about how to handle this situation. “I’m going to take a walk. Clear my head.” needed to get out of the apartment, away from the overwhelming emotions that were threatening to suffocate her. then As she stepped outside, the crisp morning air hit her, and she breathed it in deeply, hoping it would help her clear her mind. She walked aimlessly through the neighborhood, her thoughts racing. The city was just beginning to wake up, and the streets were still relatively quiet. It was the perfect backdrop for her to sort through the turmoil in her mind. As she walked, memories of her ex flooded back. They had met in college, a whirlwind romance that had been as passionate as it was tumultuous. He had been her first love, the first person who made her believe in the possibility of forever. But their relationship had been fraught with challenges—jealousy, miscommunication, and eventually, betrayal. When they broke up, it shattered her. It took her years to rebuild herself and trust again. Alex had been the one to help her through it all, even when she hadn’t realized she needed saving. He had been her rock, her best friend, and now her fiancé. The thought of anything—or anyone—jeopardizing what they had built together filled her with dread. But as much as she wanted to protect her relationship with Alex, Taylor knew she needed to confront her past. Ignoring the message would only make her more anxious, and she didn’t want to carry that anxiety into her future with Alex. She needed to face whatever her ex had to say once and for all. After what felt like hours, Taylor found herself standing in front of a small park, the one where she and Alex had shared their first kiss. The memory brought a smile to her lips, a reminder of how far they had come. She sat down on a bench, pulling out her phone. Her fingers hovered over the screen for a moment before she took a deep breath and dialed the number. It rang only once before her ex picked up. “Taylor.” His voice was familiar yet distant, as if time had placed a barrier between them. “Hi,” she replied, her voice steady despite the fluttering in her chest. “I got your message.” There was a pause on the other end, and Taylor could almost hear him collecting his thoughts. “Thank you for calling me back. I know it’s been a long time.” “It has,” she agreed, her heart pounding. “What’s going on? Why now?” He sighed, and she could hear the weariness in his voice. “I’m not trying to dredge up the past or cause any trouble. I just… I’ve been thinking a lot lately. About us and about what happened. I realized that I never really got to apologize for the way things ended.” Taylor was taken aback. An apology was the last thing she had expected. “You don’t have to do that,” she said, her voice softening. “It was a long time ago.” “I know,” he said, a hint of regret in his tone. “But it doesn’t change the fact that I hurt you. I’ve carried that guilt with me for years, and I needed to make it right, even if it’s just with an apology.” Taylor’s heart softened at his words. She had spent so long resenting him, holding onto the pain of their breakup, that she hadn’t considered that he might have been hurting too. “Thank you,” she said quietly. “I appreciate that.” Another pause, and then he asked, “Are you happy, Taylor? Have you found what you were looking for?” She glanced down at the ring on her finger, a warm sense of certainty settling over her. “I am happy,” she replied, a smile touching her lips. “I’m engaged, actually. To someone who’s been there for me through everything.” “That’s good to hear,” he said, and she could hear the sincerity in his voice. “You deserve to be happy.” “Thank you,” Taylor said again, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders. The conversation was bringing her a sense of closure she hadn’t realized she needed. “Well, I won’t keep you,” he said, his voice gentle. “I just wanted to say what I needed to say. I’m glad you’re doing well.” “Take care,” Taylor said, and with that, they ended the call. As she sat there on the bench, Taylor felt an unexpected sense of relief wash over her. The conversation had gone better than she’d imagined, and it gave her the closure she didn’t know she needed. More importantly, it reaffirmed what she already knew—her love for Alex was unwavering, and nothing from her past could change that. Taylor stood up, her steps lighter, as she made her way back home. When she walked through the door, she found Alex in the living room, his eyes filled with concern. “How did it go?” he asked, standing up to meet her. “It went well,” Taylor said, her smile genuine. “He apologized, and it made me realize that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be—with you.” Alex’s expression softened, and he pulled her into a tight embrace. “I’m glad you’re back,” he murmured into her hair. “Me too,” she whispered, feeling the last remnants of doubt melt away. As they stood there, wrapped in each other’s arms, Taylor knew that whatever challenges came their way, they would face them together. And this time, there was no doubt in her mind—she was ready for whatever the future held, as long as Alex was by her side.