Chapter 8: The Friendship Offer

Weeks passed, and Adepa found herself navigating the strange space between the past and the present. Her emotions were still tangled, the memory of Chris ever-present in her thoughts. While she was starting to heal, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing. It was as if a part of her heart had been left behind with him, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't quite fill that void.

One afternoon, as she sat in her favorite corner of the café on campus, a message notification flashed on her phone. It was from an unfamiliar number. With a sense of hesitation, she opened it.

"Adepa, I've been thinking about you a lot lately. I hope you're doing okay. I know things between us ended on a painful note, but I want you to know that I've never stopped caring about you. I miss you. Chris."

The words sent a shock through her body, causing her heart to race. It had been so long since she'd heard from him, and seeing his name pop up on her screen sent a rush of emotions flooding back. Her heart leapt with hope, yet fear settled in her chest. Was this real? Was Chris reaching out because he truly still loved her, or was this something else?

With trembling hands, Adepa typed out her reply.

"Chris, I don't know what to say. I've missed you too, but so much has happened... I thought we were done for good. I thought you'd moved on, and I didn't want to be the one holding on to something that wasn't meant to be anymore."

She stared at the message for a moment before hitting send, the words hanging heavy in the air. She felt vulnerable, unsure of what his response would be.

Minutes passed, and then his reply came.

"I understand why you feel that way. I just... I never stopped loving you, Adepa. I made mistakes, and I know I hurt you. But my feelings for you haven't changed. I'm sorry for the way things ended. I should have fought harder for us. I've been with someone else, but I can't stop thinking about you. I wish I could go back in time and fix everything."

Adepa's breath caught in her throat as she read his words. It was exactly what she had feared and hoped for. Chris still loved her, still cared about her. The realization hit her like a tidal wave. All this time, while she was moving forward, thinking he had forgotten about her, he had been holding onto the same feelings.

"But why didn't you come back sooner?" she typed out, her fingers shaking. "I've been here, struggling with the fact that I lost you... and now you're telling me this? After everything that's happened?"

Chris's reply was quick, filled with sincerity and pain.

"I was scared, Adepa. Scared of what I might lose, scared of how you'd react, scared that maybe I had waited too long. And I saw you with someone else, I thought you had moved on, that maybe you were better off without me. But now, after all this time, I can't ignore what's in my heart. I still love you. I always have."

Tears filled Adepa's eyes as she read his message. This wasn't just a simple apology. This was Chris pouring his heart out, admitting things he had never said before. And as much as she had tried to convince herself that he was a part of her past, part of her still longed for him.

Her heart ached. The love they had shared, the moments they had created, the connection that was so real—it was hard to deny that it was still there. She had never stopped thinking about him either, never truly let go. The way he made her feel when they were together was something she had never experienced with anyone else. But everything was complicated now. It wasn't just about the two of them anymore. There was her friend, his new relationship, and all the wounds that still needed healing.

Adepa felt torn. On one hand, she wanted to reach out to him, to give their love another chance. But on the other hand, she knew the weight of her actions, the way she had pushed him away and hurt him. And now, the love she had for him was tangled in guilt, confusion, and fear.

"Chris... I don't know what to do. I still love you, but everything feels so broken. I can't just pick up where we left off. I don't even know if I deserve to."

There was a pause before he responded, his words gentle but filled with longing.

"You don't have to decide right now, Adepa. I understand. I just want you to know that I never stopped loving you, and I'll always be here. Whatever you need, whenever you're ready, I'll be here. If you want to try again, we can take things slow. I'm not going anywhere."

Adepa closed her eyes, feeling the weight of his words. The hope in them, the vulnerability, the sincerity—it was everything she had longed to hear. But could she trust it? Could she trust herself, and him, enough to try again? Could she rebuild what they had lost?

The answer wasn't clear, and she knew that whatever decision she made, it wouldn't be easy. But for the first time in a long while, Adepa felt a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, the love they once had could be rekindled.

As Adepa sat there, staring at the message from Chris, the hope that had briefly sparked inside her began to flicker uncertainly. His words were filled with longing and regret, but there was something in them that made her heart drop. He wasn't asking her to come back to him—at least, not in the way she had hoped. He wanted something different. He wanted them to be friends.

"I understand if you're not ready to jump back into a relationship, Adepa. I don't want to pressure you. I just... I don't want to lose you completely. Maybe we can start by being friends again. Take things slow, and see where it goes."

His message was gentle, as if he were treading carefully around the fragile space between them. Adepa read the words over and over again, trying to make sense of them. Was this what she had hoped for all along? She had dreamed of Chris coming back, of rekindling their love, of finding their way back to each other. But now that he was offering friendship instead of romance, she felt conflicted. She wasn't sure if she was ready for that, or if it was even possible to be friends with someone who had once been so much more.

She thought about everything they had shared—the good, the bad, the moments that had shaped their relationship. She remembered the way Chris had held her when she cried, how they'd laughed together until their stomachs ached, how he had been her person, her confidant, her love. Could they ever go back to just being friends after everything they had been through? Was that even fair to either of them?

In the silence of her room, she took a deep breath and typed a response.

"I don't know, Chris. I'm not sure I can just be friends with you. It's hard to think of you as just a friend after everything we've been through. You mean so much to me, and I don't know if I can handle seeing you with someone else, or hearing about your life without me. It would hurt too much."

She stared at the message, her heart pounding. As much as she wanted to try again, she wasn't sure she could go back to a place where they were no longer what they once were. Could she really be friends with someone she still loved so deeply? Could she watch him move on and be okay with it?

Chris's reply was immediate, filled with understanding.

"I get it, Adepa. I truly do. And I don't want to make things harder for you. I just want to be a part of your life again, even if that means being friends. I've missed you so much, and I'm not rushing you into anything. Take your time. We can take it slow, and I promise I won't push you."

His words were kind, and a part of Adepa wanted to give in, to let him back in, even if just a little. But another part of her, the part that still loved him fiercely, knew that being friends would be more difficult than either of them imagined. She wasn't sure she could heal if she kept him so close, watching him move on, and pretending that everything was okay.

She took a moment to reflect on the past, and on her journey since their breakup. Adepa had learned a lot about herself, about her fears, and about the ways she had sabotaged their relationship. She had hurt him, and he had hurt her in return. But now, in the quiet space between them, she wasn't sure if their bond could simply return to friendship. The emotions were still too raw, too present.

After a long pause, Adepa typed back:

"Maybe we can talk and figure things out. But I need some time to think, Chris. I don't know if I can go back to being friends with you just yet. I need space to heal and to figure out what I want."

Chris's response was calm, understanding.

"I'll give you all the time you need, Adepa. I'll be here whenever you're ready, even if it's just to talk. Take care of yourself, okay? I want the best for you, no matter what."

Adepa sat there for a long time, staring at the screen, feeling a mixture of relief and sadness. She knew this wasn't the closure she had wanted, but it was a step forward. Chris was giving her the space she needed, and for now, that was all she could ask for.

As the days passed, Adepa focused on herself—her studies, her art, her future. She still missed Chris, but she also realized that she had to let go of the past in order to move forward. She couldn't keep holding on to the idea of what they once had. It was time to heal, time to rediscover who she was without him.

And while the idea of being friends with Chris lingered in the back of her mind, she knew she had to take things one step at a time. For now, it was enough to have the space to figure out her feelings, and maybe, just maybe, one day, they would be able to find a new way to be a part of each other's lives—whether as friends, or something more. Only time would tell.