Chapter 26: A New Chapter Begins

Chapter 26: A New Chapter Begins

Maya stood at the airport terminal, her suitcase beside her and her heart pounding in her chest. The reality of leaving had finally settled in. She glanced at Liam, who stood across from her, hands in his pockets, his eyes filled with emotions he couldn't quite put into words.

"So," she said softly, "this is it."

Liam let out a small chuckle, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Yeah. It feels weird."

She nodded. "It does. But it's not goodbye."

He looked at her, searching for reassurance. "No, it's not."

Maya reached out, taking his hand. "We've been preparing for this, haven't we? Chasing our dreams, pushing ourselves. We'll be okay."

Liam squeezed her hand. "I know. But I'm still going to miss you."

Her throat tightened, but she forced a smile. "I'll miss you too. So much. But we'll call, we'll text, and before we know it, summer will be over."

The final boarding call echoed through the terminal. Maya took a deep breath and stepped forward, but before she could let go, Liam pulled her into a tight embrace. She buried her face in his shoulder, holding on for just a moment longer.

"I'm so proud of you, Maya," he whispered.

Tears pricked her eyes. "I'm proud of you too. Keep singing, okay? Keep sharing your music."

Liam pulled back just enough to look at her. "And you keep changing the world."

She laughed through her tears. "Deal."

With one last lingering look, Maya picked up her suitcase and turned toward the gate. Liam watched her go, his heart heavy but full of something else, too—hope.

As Maya disappeared into the terminal, Liam took a deep breath and pulled out his phone. He had an idea for a new song, one he needed to write before the feeling faded. Because this wasn't the end of their story.

It was just the beginning.

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To be continued…