miranbajrami59

"The Light Between Us"
In a town full of memories, the past is never really gone.

When 15-year-old Ryan Whitmore moves to Rosehill with his mom, he’s not just starting over—he’s running from everything he used to be. But small towns have long shadows, and Ryan quickly finds himself caught in something bigger than he expected. A girl who feels too familiar. A team he wasn’t supposed to lead. A truth that could ruin everything.

Between cheerleading tryouts, basketball tournaments, and late-night talks under the stars, Ryan, Anna, Ben, and Savannah are just trying to figure it all out. But secrets have a way of showing up—especially when you're finally starting to feel at home.

Basketball isn’t just a game here.
It’s where friendships are tested, futures are shaped, and second chances are earned.

THe Light Between us

Ryan opened the front door quietly, slipping inside as the evening settled over Rosehill. The café downstairs still smelled faintly of fresh paint and wood polish. He kicked his shoes off by the door and climbed the stairs slowly, hoping to avoid a long conversation.

He didn't even make it to the kitchen.

Sarah's voice came from the living room. She was folding laundry on the couch, her hair up in a messy bun, sleeves pushed to her elbows. She looked tired—but when she saw him, she straightened up, her gaze narrowing.

"What happened to your hand?" Her voice sharpened with concern.

Ryan glanced down at his knuckles. They were red and slightly swollen, a faint scrape across two of them. He flexed his fingers. "It's nothing."

Sarah dropped the towel she was folding. "Ryan."

He sighed. "Just a dumb thing. A guy at school's been messing with Ben. Today he crossed a line, and I stepped in."

Her eyes searched his. "You got into a fight?"

Ryan didn't answer right away. He walked to the kitchen sink, turned the faucet on, and ran cold water over his hand. The sting reminded him of the swing he'd taken. Of the punch to his ribs.

"You could've gotten seriously hurt," Sarah said, coming up behind him. "You could get suspended, Ryan."

"He was picking on Ben. What was I supposed to do—just watch?" Ryan turned off the water and grabbed a towel. "I didn't throw the first punch."

Sarah reached for the first aid kit they kept above the fridge. She pulled out some ointment and a clean bandage. "That's not the point. You don't solve things with fists."

He let her take his hand, and she began cleaning the wound gently.

"You always do this," she said quietly. "You carry everything on your shoulders. You bottle it up until you snap."

"No, you're not fine," she said, her voice cracking slightly. "You're fifteen, in a new school, in a town you hate, and instead of letting someone help you, you throw yourself into a fight on your second week."

Sarah took a deep breath and finished wrapping his hand. She sat down at the small kitchen table, rubbing her eyes.

"You're not alone here, Ryan. You never were."

He looked at her, his voice low. "You left this town for a reason. And now we're back. You're not the only one who has to figure things out."

Sarah looked up, surprised by how much she saw of herself in his eyes.

"Do you regret coming here?" she asked.

Ryan leaned against the counter, staring at his bandaged hand. "I don't know. Maybe not as much as I did last week."

She gave a tired smile. "Small win, I guess."

He walked over and sat across from her. "I'm not saying I'll tell you everything. But I'll listen if you want to."

Sarah nodded slowly. "One day, I'll tell you everything too."

They sat in silence for a while, a quiet truce settling between them.

Outside, the lights of Rosehill glowed faintly through the window, and for the first time since they'd arrived, Ryan didn't feel like running away.

Chapter thirty-one – What Happened to Your Hand?