Chapter Ten: The Choice

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The morning after the family dinner, the house felt unusually still. The quiet that had settled over everything was suffocating, and Aira couldn't escape the questions swirling in her mind. Imran had been so patient, so understanding—but she felt like she was being torn in two directions. The decision she had been avoiding for days now loomed large, and she knew she couldn't avoid it any longer.

She stood by the window, gazing out at the sleepy town. The sunlight filtered through the branches of the old oak tree in the front yard, casting long shadows on the ground. It was a peaceful sight, but it felt like the calm before the storm.

Her phone buzzed on the kitchen counter, and Aira's heart skipped. It was an unfamiliar number.

Her fingers hesitated over the screen, but after a deep breath, she opened the message.

> *Aira, I know this is hard. But please, let's talk. I'm at the park now. Just five minutes. That's all I'm asking. -Elliot*

The words echoed in her mind. Just five minutes. But she knew deep down that those five minutes could change everything. She could go, hear him out, and walk away. Or she could ignore him, close the door on a past that still had a hold on her.

But she couldn't decide in this moment. Not yet.

Aira turned and walked into the living room where Imran was sitting on the couch, reading a book. His presence filled the room like a steady, calming force, and for a moment, she felt the weight of his gaze before he even looked up.

"Morning," he said softly, setting the book down and standing.

"Morning," Aira replied, trying to keep her voice steady.

He stepped closer, concern flickering across his features. "You okay?"

Aira nodded, though the words she wanted to say were stuck in her throat. She wanted to be honest, to tell him about the message. She wanted to talk to him about Elliot and how conflicted she felt. But a part of her was scared—scared that telling him would push him away, or worse, break the fragile thing they were building.

"I…" She trailed off, not sure how to put it into words. "I got a message from Elliot."

Imran's eyes darkened slightly, but his expression remained calm. "What did he say?"

Aira's stomach twisted as she held up her phone and showed him the message. She watched as his eyes scanned it, then looked back at her, his jaw tightening ever so slightly.

"I don't want to hurt you, Imran," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I need to know… I need to know if there's any closure left."

Imran's face softened, his gaze never leaving hers. "I understand that, Aira," he said quietly. "But you've already made your choice. You're here with me. You're building something with me. Don't let him pull you back into a past that's already gone."

Aira felt the weight of his words, but the pull of Elliot was so strong. She had never truly gotten closure with him. They had ended things so abruptly, with so many unsaid words and unfinished emotions. But Imran was here, and he had been there for her in a way that Elliot never had been. And now, she had to make a choice.

"I don't know what to do," Aira admitted, her voice breaking. "I'm scared."

Imran stepped forward, gently taking her hand in his. "Whatever you choose, I'll be here," he said softly. "But don't make this decision for me. Make it for yourself. You deserve peace, Aira. And you won't find it by keeping one foot in the past."

Aira nodded slowly, tears threatening to spill. "But what if I never get the closure I need? What if I'm always wondering 'what if'?"

Imran squeezed her hand gently. "That's the risk we take when we choose to move forward. Sometimes closure isn't something that's handed to us. Sometimes, it's something we have to give ourselves."

Aira took a shaky breath. She was terrified. Terrified of making the wrong choice, terrified of losing Imran, terrified of confronting a past that still haunted her.

"I think I need to go," she said softly. "Just for a little while. I need to hear him out."

Imran's face was unreadable, but he nodded. "I understand. Just… don't let this decision break you. Whatever you choose, remember that you have the right to move on, to let go."

Aira felt her heart ache as she walked toward the door, her thoughts a jumbled mess. She had no idea what to expect when she saw Elliot again, but she knew she couldn't avoid him any longer.

The drive to the park felt like it took hours. The roads seemed endless, the trees stretching far above her, casting long shadows across the path. Her hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, her mind racing. What would she say? What would she feel when she saw him? Was she truly ready to close that door once and for all?

When she arrived, Elliot was already there, sitting on a bench by the lake, his back turned to her. The sight of him made her stomach twist. He looked almost the same—tall, dark hair, that familiar, distant expression. But something in her had changed. She wasn't the same girl who had fallen in love with him. She was different now. She had grown.

He turned when he heard the crunch of gravel under her feet, and his eyes softened when he saw her. For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence between them stretched, filled with unspoken words, regrets, and old wounds.

"Aira," he said finally, his voice hesitant.

She met his gaze, her heart pounding in her chest. "Elliot."

He stood, walking toward her slowly. "I'm glad you came. I didn't know if you would."

Aira swallowed hard, trying to steady her nerves. "You asked for five minutes."

He nodded. "I know. I won't take more than that. I just wanted to explain… everything."

She crossed her arms, looking down at the ground, not sure if she was ready to hear the words that were coming. "You don't owe me an explanation. You left, Elliot. You *chose* to leave."

"I know," he said quietly. "And I regret it every day. I was an idiot. I didn't appreciate what I had. I thought I could find something better, and now… now I see that I was wrong."

Aira's breath caught in her throat. "What are you trying to say, Elliot?"

He stepped closer, his eyes pleading. "I'm saying that I've never stopped thinking about you. I know I messed up. But I need to know if there's a chance for us. If there's anything left."

Aira's chest tightened. The words she had longed to hear, the words she had imagined so many times, now felt hollow. She had spent years hoping for him to come back, to say these things. But now that he had, she realized something important.

"I can't do this anymore," she said, her voice shaking. "I can't keep waiting for someone who doesn't appreciate me. Who doesn't understand what it means to truly love someone."

Elliot's face fell, and for a brief moment, Aira saw a flicker of regret in his eyes. But she didn't feel anger. She didn't feel sadness. She just felt… tired.

"I've moved on, Elliot," she said softly. "And I need to let go of you. Of us."

He stood there in silence for a long time, and Aira knew, deep down, that this was the last time they would ever have this conversation. She wasn't the same person she was when they first met. She had changed, and so had he. But what mattered now was that she had to move forward.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly.

"I know," Aira replied, giving him a small, sad smile. "Me too."

She turned and walked away, the weight of the past finally lifting from her shoulders. As she got back into her car, she felt a sense of calm wash over her.

And as she drove back to Imran, she knew that the decision she had made was the right one. She was ready for the future. Ready for the love that was waiting for her. The one that was real.

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