Chapter 29: The Hardest Decision

Chapter 29: The Hardest Decision

With only a few weeks left in the program, Maya received unexpected news—one of her mentors had recommended her for an extended internship, an opportunity to stay on and work directly on a conservation project. It was an incredible offer, one she had never imagined possible. But accepting it would mean staying away from home for even longer.

She called Liam immediately, her heart pounding.

"That's amazing, Maya," he said, but his voice lacked its usual enthusiasm. "So… what does that mean for us?"

"I don't know yet," she admitted. "But I wanted to talk to you about it first."

Silence stretched between them, heavy and uncertain.

"I don't want to hold you back," Liam finally said. "This is your dream. You should go for it."

"But what about us?" she asked, her voice breaking.

Liam hesitated, and in that moment, she knew. They both did.

"Maybe… maybe we need to figure out who we are on our own for a while," he said softly. "We're both growing, changing. Maybe this isn't the end for us, but… we need space."

Tears welled in her eyes. "Liam…"

"I love you, Maya. I always will. But I don't want us to hold each other back from becoming who we're meant to be."

Maya closed her eyes, letting the words sink in. It wasn't what she wanted to hear, but deep down, she knew he was right. They had built something beautiful together, but sometimes, love meant letting go.