part 31 : conversation of closure

Fiona sat at her desk, the soft glow of her

desk lamp casting shadows across the

room. She took a deep breath and opened

her messages. One by one, she began to

type.

To Dominic:

"I know we haven't spoken much, but I think

it's time we talked. There's a lot I need to say,

and I owe it to you. Can we meet, just the two

of Us? Let me know when you're free."

She stared at the message for a moment

before sending it, knowing it would be the

start of a difficult conversation. Her hands

trembled slightly, but she steadied them,

then turned her attention to the next

message.

To Damien:

"I need to speak with you . I realize how

nuch things have affected you both, and I

want to make it right. I can't be in a

relationship at this moment, but I'd like to

keep our bond as friends if that's okay with

you. Let me know when you're free to meet."

She read both messages once more before

hitting send. Her heart pounded in her chest

as she thought about what would come

next. She wasn't sure what would happen

but she knew that no matter what, this was

the first step.

The next day, she met with Dominic

first. They sat in a quiet café, the hum of

soft music in the background. Fiona had

chosen a neutral spot-somewhere that felt

calm, away from the chaos of their lives.

Dominic was the first to speak. ""I... I

don't know what to say. I thought you were

going to hate me forever for what

happened.

Fiona smiled softly, shaking her head. "I

don't hate you. I just needed space to figure

things out. But I also didn't want to leave

you in the dark."

He looked at her, his eyes filled with a quiet

pain. "I was angry. At myself. At everything

And know that pushing you away didn't

help either of us.I should've handled it

differently

Fiona nodded, her voice gentle. "We both

Made mistakes. But I don't want to hurt you

anymore. Ican't be in a relationship right

now. I need to focus on myself, on healing

But I'm not walking away. We can still be

friends. If you want to, of course."

Dominic's expression softened. He

didn't argue, didn't try to convince her to

change her mind. He just nodded slowly. "

get it. And... iwill be here. If you need me."

The conversation lingered in the air, but

Fiona knew it was the beginning of a new

chapter for them-a chapter where their

bond wasn't defined by romance, but by

respect and understanding

Later that evening, she met Hakimi at a

quiet park. The air was cool, the stars

beginning to twinkle in the night sky.

Damein, always the charmer, looked at her

with a soft smile, but she could tell there

was a tension between them.

"Fiona," he started, his voice calm, "I...I

don't know what to say either. Things have

been so complicated between us, and I

know I've been distant. It's not because of

you. ljust... have been figuring things out

too."

Fiona met his gaze, her voice steady but

soft. "I understand. I think we've both been

avoiding the real talk. I can't give you what

you want right now. I need to be with myself

for a while. But I want to be friends, Hakimi.

I hope that's okay.

He didn't flinch, didn't try to argue. Instead

he sighed, a small, knowing smile appearing

on his lips. "Yeah. I think I can live with that

I'lI always be here, Fiona. No matter what."

Fiona smiled softly in return. It wasn't the

passionate love she had once imagined, but

there was a deep sense of relief in knowing

that they had come to an understanding

that they were not just leaving things

that they had come to an understanding

that they were not just leaving things

unresolved.

As she walked home that night, Fiona felt

lighter. The weight of the past wasn't

completely gone, but she had taken the first

step toward healing. She wasn't making any

promises she couldn't keep, but she was

opening herself to the possibility of new

beginnings-with herself, with them, and

maybe even with the future.

She just had to let it unfold in its own time.