Whispers Of The Hearts

ibbons and half-filled champagne glasses, the gentle echo of music that lingered in the corners of Charlotte's mind. The house was quieter now, the noise of t

before. Ethan's words haunted her, his apology still echoing in the quiet of her heart. He had said he was sorry. He had acknowledg

almost nostalgic. It had been years since she had felt at ease in this house, with these familiar surroun

waking up, the streets empty except for a few early risers going about their business. Everything seemed so simple, s

arlotte picked it up, expecting a message from Sophie,

doing okay. We

as E

o soon. But there it was, a simple message that spoke volumes. She had to admit, the thought of talking to him again was a li

g. Should she respond? What could they possibly have to talk about?

she wanted. She didn't know if she was ready to face Ethan, not after everything. But a part of her-some deep, unspoken part-knew that

Charlotte hesitated for a mo

and w

re she could seco

came almost

at the par

like a place from another life. The park was where she and Ethan had spent countless hours as teenagers,

hat last night had never happened. But the other part of her- the part that still felt something,

otsteps felt heavy as she made her way to the door, but there was a sense of determination in

the breeze. The park looked much the same as it had all those years ago-still and quiet, a place of peace amidst the busyness of

relaxed but tense at the same time. The sight of him brought a rush of memories flooding back. He hadn't changed much in the years sinc

m, unsure of what to say. The air between them felt t

anything. He pushed himself off the tree an

his voice quie

raying the nerves she had tried to sup

in his eyes. "I didn't expect you to. But I think... I th

ing at the truth of his words. "I'v

do. But avoiding it hasn't made it go a

moment before she met his gaze again. "I don't even k

o figure it out, and I still don't have all the answ

hat the years had changed him. He wasn't the same boy who had left her without a

er voice barely above a whisp

at the past doesn't matter. I've spent so many years convincing myself that I could move

hat if they ever talked again, she wouldn't be able to protect her heart. But hearing him

the question burning on her tongue. "Why di

was best for you," he said, his voice low. "I thought that if I left, I could build a future. But in d

. "But you didn't even try, Ethan. You didn't e

'll never be able to make up for that. I don't expect you to

years of pain, of unanswered questions, weighed heavily on her. But beneath it all, there was something else.

said finally, her voice calm but firm. "But ma

entative hope flickering i

n them. The past was still there, lingering in the air, but for the first time in a

for the first time, Charlott