Unfinished feelings

Chapter Five: Unspoken Confessions

Days passed, and Amelia found herself talking to Julian more often than she expected. Their conversations were simple—sometimes about her studies, sometimes about his work—but there was always something lingering beneath the surface. No matter how much she tried to suppress it, the past still clung to her like a shadow.

One evening, as she lay on her bed staring at the ceiling, her phone vibrated beside her. She picked it up and saw Julian's name flashing on the screen. His message was brief but enough to send her heart racing.

"I miss you."

Amelia hesitated, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. She wanted to say she missed him too, but something held her back. Instead, she typed, "You don't even see me. How can you miss me?"

A reply came almost immediately.

"Missing someone isn't just about seeing them. I miss your voice, your laugh, the way you complain about life."

A small smile played on Amelia's lips, despite herself. He still remembered the little things. The way she would rant about assignments, the way she used to tease him about his obsession with football, the way she would always take extra sugar in her tea.

She sighed and replied, "I don't know what to say."

Seconds later, another message came through.

"Say what's in your heart."

She stared at the words, feeling her chest tighten. Her heart was a mess of emotions—love, fear, longing, and doubt all tangled together. Finally, she let her fingers move across the screen.

"I'm scared, Julian."

She could almost hear his voice in her head as she read his next message.

"Of what?"

Amelia swallowed hard, rolling onto her side. The weight of her thoughts was suffocating.

"Of letting you in again. Of getting hurt. Of feeling things I shouldn't feel."

Her phone remained silent for a moment before vibrating again.

"You don't have to rush anything. I'll wait for you, Amelia. Even if it takes forever."

Her breath caught. He had always been good with words, always knowing what to say. But could she believe him? Could she trust him after everything?

Instead of replying, she placed her phone on her chest and closed her eyes. Maybe tomorrow she would have an answer. Maybe tomorrow, the fear wouldn't feel so overwhelming.

For now, she let herself feel—just a little.