In the right direction.

With the stability between Sophie and Eli slowly growing stronger, there remained a lingering weight in the back of Sophie's mind her past. No matter how much progress they made, she couldn't shake the sense that her unresolved history with Anna was a loose thread waiting to unravel. Eli never pushed Sophie to confront it, but Sophie knew it was a conversation that could no longer be avoided if she wanted to fully move forward.

It was Mae who finally nudged Sophie in the right direction, during one of their regular catch-ups at a coffee shop downtown.

"You're looking better," Mae commented as she sipped her latte, eyeing Sophie with a discerning look. "Things with Eli are good?"

Sophie nodded, a small smile forming on her lips. "Yeah, they are. We've been taking it slow, but it feels… different this time. Better."

"That's great. I'm glad." Mae paused, as if considering her next words carefully. "But there's still something holding you back, isn't there?"

Sophie's smile faded, and she sighed, knowing what Mae was getting at. "It's Anna. I don't know if I'll ever really be free of what happened between us."

Mae placed her cup down and leaned in. "Have you talked to her? Since everything went down?"

"No," Sophie admitted, fidgeting with the edge of her napkin. "I've avoided it. Every time I think about her, it's like this knot in my chest tightens. I'm scared of what facing her would bring up."

"But you know you have to, right? It's not about her anymore, Sophie. It's about you. And if you don't deal with the past, it's always going to be hanging over your future."

Sophie stared down at her coffee, her thoughts swirling. Mae was right. As much as Sophie hated the idea of facing Anna, she knew deep down that it was the only way to truly let go of the fear that had followed her like a shadow. 

"I know," Sophie whispered. "I just don't know if I'm ready."

"You'll never be ready," Mae said, giving her a sympathetic smile. "But that doesn't mean you shouldn't do it."

---

That evening, Sophie sat on her couch, staring at her phone, Anna's contact pulled up on the screen. Her thumb hovered over the call button, her heart pounding. It had been almost two years since they'd last spoken, and the thought of hearing Anna's voice again sent waves of anxiety through her.

But Sophie knew she couldn't keep avoiding it. She needed closure, not just for herself, but for her relationship with Eli. She needed to understand why things had fallen apart with Anna why she had let her fear of commitment consume her back then, and why it had almost done the same with Eli.

Finally, with a deep breath, Sophie pressed the call button. The line rang for what felt like an eternity before a familiar voice answered on the other end.

"Sophie?" Anna's voice was tentative, as if unsure whether to expect hostility or calm.

"Yeah," Sophie replied, her voice quieter than she intended. "It's me."

There was a pause, then a soft sigh from Anna. "I wasn't expecting to hear from you."

"I wasn't sure I'd ever call," Sophie admitted. "But I've been doing a lot of thinking… about us, about everything that happened. I think I need to talk about it."

Another pause, and Sophie could almost hear Anna's hesitation through the phone. "I guess I should've expected this call sooner or later."

Sophie didn't quite know where to begin, so she started with what was most pressing on her heart. "I've been carrying this fear around ever since we broke up. It's like… I never really understood what went wrong. I blamed myself for a long time, thinking I wasn't good enough for you, that I couldn't make it work."

Anna was silent for a few moments, then spoke softly. "It wasn't about you not being good enough, Sophie. It was about us not being right for each other. I cared about you, I really did, but we were both in different places. And I think… we were both scared, but in different ways."

Sophie closed her eyes, the words both comforting and painful. "I was terrified," she admitted. "Terrified of getting too close, of losing control. Every time we fought, I would shut down because I didn't know how to deal with it."

"I know," Anna said, her voice gentle but firm. "And I was scared too. I wanted more than you were ready to give, and I didn't know how to handle that either. We were both reacting out of fear, and it created this… cycle. By the end, neither of us knew how to stop it."

Sophie nodded, even though Anna couldn't see her. It was strange hearing it now, the clarity in Anna's voice making sense of what had once felt like chaos. "I think part of me held on to the guilt because I didn't know what else to do with it."

"I get that," Anna said. "But holding on to guilt doesn't help anyone. We were both responsible for what happened between us. It wasn't all on you, and it wasn't all on me."

Sophie felt something inside her begin to loosen, like a knot that had been tied too tightly for too long. "I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice breaking. "For not being able to give you what you needed."

"I'm sorry too," Anna replied softly. "For pushing you when you weren't ready. We both made mistakes."

For the first time in a long time, Sophie felt a sense of peace wash over her. She wasn't angry at Anna anymore, and more importantly, she wasn't angry at herself. It had taken a long time to get here, but Sophie was finally ready to let go.

"Thank you for talking to me," Sophie said, her voice steadying. "I think I needed this."

"I'm glad you called," Anna said, a hint of warmth in her tone. "I hope you find what you're looking for, Sophie."

Sophie smiled softly. "I think I already have."

They said their goodbyes, and as Sophie hung up the phone, she felt lighter than she had in years. She hadn't realized just how much the unresolved pain from her relationship with Anna had been weighing her down. But now, with that chapter finally closed, she felt free.

---

That night, Sophie met Eli for dinner. They went to a cozy restaurant they loved, tucked away in a quiet corner of the city. As they sat across from each other, Sophie found herself feeling more present, more connected than she had in a long time.

"I talked to Anna," Sophie said after a while, her eyes meeting Eli's across the table.

Eli's eyebrows lifted in surprise. "You did? How did it go?"

"It was… good," Sophie said, her voice soft but sure. "I think I finally got the closure I needed. I feel like I can really move forward now."

Eli reached across the table, taking Sophie's hand. "I'm glad. You deserve that peace."

Sophie smiled, squeezing Eli's hand gently. "I think we both do."

As they talked and laughed over dinner, Sophie felt a deep sense of contentment. For the first time in her life, she wasn't running from her past or from her fears. She had faced them head-on, and though there was still work to be done, she was ready for it.

And with Eli by her side, she knew she wasn't doing it alone.

Sophie felt lighter after her conversation with Anna, like a heavy weight had been lifted from her chest. For the first time in years, she no longer felt shackled by her past. The next few weeks with Eli were peaceful, filled with laughter, quiet moments, and new memories. Yet, even with the progress they had made, Sophie knew there were still parts of herself she hadn't fully opened up about. The deepest parts, the ones she had long kept hidden.

One evening, after dinner at Eli's apartment, Sophie found herself staring out the window, watching the city lights flicker. The familiar pang of vulnerability settled in her chest. She had made great strides in healing her old wounds, but there was still something she hadn't yet fully addressed the reason she had been so afraid of commitment in the first place. Eli had never pushed her to explain, but she knew it was time.

"I've been thinking about something," Sophie said, her voice quiet but determined as she turned to face Eli, who sat on the couch, flipping through a book.

Eli looked up, their expression curious. "What's on your mind?"

Sophie crossed the room and sat beside them, her heart thudding in her chest. She reached for Eli's hand, threading their fingers together. "There's something I haven't told you. Something about my past… before Anna."

Eli's eyes softened with understanding, but they stayed quiet, letting Sophie continue in her own time.

Sophie took a deep breath, steeling herself for what she was about to share. "Before Anna, before I moved here, I was in another relationship. It was… complicated. And when it ended, I thought I'd never be able to trust anyone again."

Eli frowned slightly, but their grip on Sophie's hand tightened in quiet support. "What happened?"

Sophie looked away for a moment, gathering her thoughts. "Her name was Emily. We met in college, and for a while, everything felt perfect. She was my first real love, the first person I ever let in completely. But over time, things changed. She became controlling, manipulative in ways I didn't see at first. By the time I realized what was happening, I was in too deep, and I didn't know how to get out."

Eli's expression darkened, their protective instincts rising. "She hurt you?"

Sophie nodded slowly, her voice trembling. "Emotionally, yeah. It wasn't physical, but she would make me feel small, like everything that went wrong was my fault. She would make me doubt myself constantly, and over time, I started to believe her. I thought I wasn't good enough. I thought I deserved it."

Eli's hand gripped hers tighter, and Sophie could see the anger flicker behind their eyes not at her, but at the person who had caused her so much pain. "Sophie, I'm so sorry you went through that."

Sophie swallowed hard, feeling a tear slide down her cheek. "By the time I finally found the strength to leave, I didn't trust myself anymore. I didn't trust my judgment, my feelings. And after that, I built these walls, telling myself I wouldn't let anyone in again. That's why, with Anna, I was always so scared. I didn't want to feel that kind of pain again."

Eli reached out, wiping the tear from her cheek with a gentle touch. "You didn't deserve any of that, Sophie. And what happened to you, it wasn't your fault."

Sophie nodded, feeling a flood of emotions rush through her. "I know that now. But for a long time, I couldn't see it. And even after all these years, I still carry some of that fear with me. I still have moments where I question if I'm enough, if I'm worthy of being loved."

Eli cupped her face, their touch soft and reassuring. "You are enough, Sophie. You're more than enough. And I don't want you to ever doubt that."

Sophie closed her eyes, leaning into Eli's touch, feeling the warmth and sincerity in their words. "I know you love me," she whispered. "But sometimes, I still feel like I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. Like something will happen, and I'll lose you."

Eli's eyes softened with a mix of love and understanding. "I get it, Sophie. I really do. But you're not going to lose me. I'm not going anywhere."

Sophie opened her eyes, meeting Eli's steady gaze. For the first time, she truly believed it. The walls she had spent so long building, the armor she had used to protect herself, were finally starting to come down. And with Eli, she felt safe enough to let them fall.

"I'm trying to believe that," Sophie said, her voice stronger now. "And I'm working on it, every day."

Eli smiled softly, pulling her into a gentle embrace. "We'll work on it together."

---

Over the next few weeks, Sophie felt a deeper connection with Eli than ever before. The vulnerability they had shared that night had opened up a new level of trust between them, and Sophie found herself feeling more at ease in the relationship. She no longer feared the quiet moments, the pauses in conversation where she used to question whether she was saying or doing enough.

They spent more time together, going on spontaneous weekend trips or simply enjoying each other's company at home. One evening, as they walked through a local park, Sophie found herself thinking about how much had changed since the beginning of their relationship. The fear that had once consumed her had gradually been replaced by a quiet confidence, a belief that maybe, just maybe, she could have a love that was stable and lasting.

As they strolled down the winding path, the autumn leaves crunching beneath their feet, Eli turned to her with a thoughtful expression.

"You know, I've been thinking," Eli began, their voice hesitant but warm.

Sophie raised an eyebrow, curious. "About what?"

"About us. About the future."

Sophie's heart skipped a beat, her mind racing. The future? What did that mean? She had spent so long afraid of the idea of commitment, but now, with Eli, it didn't seem as daunting as it once had.

"What about the future?" Sophie asked cautiously.

Eli stopped walking and turned to face her fully, their expression serious but filled with affection. "I know we've been through a lot. And I know we've both had our fears. But I also know that I love you, and I see a future with you. A real future."

Sophie's breath hitched in her throat, her heart swelling with emotion. "Eli…"

"I'm not talking about rushing into anything," Eli continued quickly, sensing Sophie's surprise. "I just… I want you to know that I'm in this for the long haul. Whatever comes our way, I want to face it with you."

Sophie felt tears welling in her eyes again, but this time, they were tears of joy. She had spent so long afraid of this kind of conversation, but now, standing here with Eli, it felt right. It felt good.

"I want that too," Sophie said softly, her voice steady despite the wave of emotions crashing over her. "I'm ready for that."

Eli smiled, a look of pure relief and happiness washing over their face. They reached for Sophie's hand, pulling her into a tight embrace. "We've got this, Soph. No matter what, we've got this."

Sophie clung to Eli, her heart full of love and hope for the future. For the first time, she truly believed it. They had faced so many challenges together, but they had come out stronger on the other side. And now, standing here in the fading light of autumn, Sophie knew that their love was something worth fighting for something that could last.