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

She stood frozen in the kitchen, the festival noise muffled as her mind spiraled. Ryan and Anna. Together. Holding hands. Smiling. And everyone had seen it.

Her heart sank as reality crashed over her—she had waited too long. Waited too long to tell him the truth. And now the truth might destroy him.

She barely noticed the sound of the spoon clattering to the floor. "What have I done," she whispered, clutching the counter for support.

His knuckles tightened around the coffee cup as he watched from across the square. Ryan. Anna. Together.

The truth hit him with a weight he hadn't been prepared for. His son. His daughter.

A part of him wanted to storm over and tear them apart. Another part—the stronger, more mature part—knew he had no right. Not yet. He was the one who left all those years ago. He was the one who didn't know he had a son.

But now he did. And it was already too late.

He turned his eyes away, jaw clenched. He would fix this. He had to.

He didn't say anything at first. Just stood on the edge of the crowd, arms crossed, a storm brewing behind his eyes. He'd watched Ryan grow this past year. Seen the quiet pain in his game. The fire. The hunger.

He also knew now that pain had a name: family.

He sighed deeply. "They don't know," he muttered. "They don't know yet."

But it wouldn't stay hidden for long. And when it broke, it would break hard.

The elderly librarian gasped when she overheard a whispered conversation near the cake stand. "Anna and Ryan are together?"

Her heart skipped. "Wait… Richard's boy?"

She turned to Mr. James, whose expression was tight. "Is that true?"

She shook her head, muttering under her breath, "This town's been hiding ghosts for too long."

He hadn't seen Ryan grow up, not in person. But over the years, Sarah had sent letters. Photos. Updates. Each one a quiet thank-you, a small window into the life she had built after leaving Rosehill.

He remembered the first picture—Ryan as a toddler, messy hair and a mischievous smile. Then came school portraits, basketball snapshots, birthday parties. In every one, Mr. James saw traces of Richard. The same eyes. The same stubborn expression.

And now, standing at the edge of the festival, he watched that boy—nearly a man now—holding hands with Anna.

He knew the truth. He'd known it for years. He'd carried it like a weight, trusting Sarah to choose the right time. But this… this wasn't how it was supposed to unfold.

The secret was crumbling in plain sight.

And while the town gossiped and whispered, Mr. James could only watch, heart heavy, and hope that love—real love—would somehow find a way to survive it all.

"I think it's kinda sweet," Ben said, finishing off the last bite of their festival cake. "They look happy."

Savannah raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, but people are talking."

Ben shrugged. "Let them. Ryan deserves happy. So does Anna."

Savannah nodded slowly, unsure of her own opinion—but grateful for Ben's unwavering loyalty.

She'd always seen something between them, even when they barely spoke. Something quiet. Something real.

And maybe the town couldn't see past last names and bloodlines. But she could.

As she watched them pose for a photo in front of the food stand, Savannah smiled. "They're good together," she said softly.

She clapped as Anna presented the cake to the judges, smiling proudly as any mother would.

When she saw Anna and Ryan holding hands, her heart filled with joy. "Finally," she whispered. "She found someone."

She had no idea about Richard's secret. No clue that Ryan was more than just a boy in love.

Chapter 81 – Reactions