Zoeee

Always waiting

zoeee♪

High school was a strange place, filled with laughter, chaos, and fleeting moments of connection. For me, it was a mix of routine and anticipation—a constant rhythm of classes, hallways, and the ever-present hope of seeing him.

Even saying his name in my mind made my heart race. He was the kind of person everyone liked. Not because he tried to be, but because he was effortlessly kind. He wasn’t the loudest or the most outgoing, but his smile could light up a room, and his laughter seemed to echo longer than anyone else’s.

I’d liked him for years. It started small, just a fleeting crush when we were sophomores. He’d borrowed a pencil from me during math class. I remember how his hand brushed mine, and he said, “Thanks” with a smile that made my stomach do flips. That moment, insignificant to him, became the beginning of everything for me.

The Days That Followed

From then on, he was everywhere in my world. Not intentionally—I didn’t follow him or anything. But it was like my senses were fine-tuned to notice him. The way he walked, his laughter that always seemed to break through the noise, the way he leaned against his locker when he talked to his friends.

I tried not to stare, but sometimes it was hard not to. He was the kind of person who radiated warmth, even from across the room.

I wasn’t brave enough to tell him how I felt. How could I? He was friendly with everyone, and I didn’t want to embarrass myself by thinking I was special. But that didn’t stop my heart from hoping.

Our Shared Moments

Junior year was when things felt different. We got paired for a history project, and for a few weeks, I got to be a part of his world. Sitting next to him in the library, I learned more about him—the way he chewed on his pen when he was thinking, the way his eyes lit up when he talked about something he cared about.

“You’re really good at this,” he said one day, looking at the notes I had written.

I blushed and shrugged. “It’s just research.”

“No, I mean it. You’re smart,” he said, his tone sincere.

I wanted to freeze that moment, hold onto it forever. For a little while, I let myself believe that maybe he noticed me too.

But then there was A girl

The Reality Check

That girl was everything I wasn’t—confident, outgoing, beautiful in a way that seemed effortless. She and him often hung out, laughing and teasing each other in the hallways. I tried not to let it bother me, but it was hard.

One day, I saw them walking together after school, their heads close as they talked. My heart sank. I told myself it didn’t matter. He was just being himself—kind and friendly. But deep down, I couldn’t help wondering if there was something more between them.

Still, I couldn’t stop liking him. Every smile he gave me, every casual “Hey,” was enough to keep my feelings alive.

The Goodbye

Senior year came faster than I expected. Everyone was talking about their futures—college, careers, the big plans they had for their lives. He was going out of state, to a prestigious university that everyone knew about. I was staying in town, going to a local college and helping out at my family’s bookstore.

The thought of not seeing him every day was unbearable. I didn’t know how to let go of someone who didn’t even know they held such a big piece of my heart.

On the last day of school, I decided to do something I never thought I’d have the courage to do. I wrote him a letter.

It wasn’t long, but it said everything I’d been too scared to say:

Dear...

I don’t know if you’ll ever read this, but I wanted to tell you something before we go our separate ways. You’ve always been someone special to me, even if you never realized it. You probably think of me as just a quiet girl from history class, but I’ve admired you for so long. I hope you achieve everything you dream of because you deserve it all. And if you ever think back to high school, I hope you remember me.

I folded the letter and slipped it into his locker before I could change my mind.

Waiting

Summer came, and he left for college. Life moved on, but I stayed the same, stuck in a loop of waiting. Waiting for him to call, to write, to say something—anything. But the days turned into weeks, and then months.

I often wondered if he had read my letter. Maybe he thought it was silly, or maybe he didn’t care. I didn’t know, and that uncertainty hurt more than anything.

Still, I couldn’t let go of the hope that one day he might come back. I replayed our moments together in my mind, clinging to the memories like lifelines.

Years Later

Now, I sit by the window of our bookstore, watching the world go by. I’ve grown up, but some part of me is still that high school girl, waiting for Ryan.

I don’t know if I’ll ever see him again. Maybe he’s forgotten me entirely. But I’ll always remember him—the boy with the kind smile who unknowingly became my everything.

Some loves are like that. They don’t fade, even when they remain unspoken. And no matter how much time passes, a part of me will always be waiting.

Still waiting...

2024-12-31

235

Timeless love

Rain pattered softly against the windows of the bustling café as Emma pushed the door open, a bell tinkling to announce her arrival. The aroma of coffee and baked goods wrapped around her, comforting and familiar. She tugged off her scarf, her thoughts wandering back to her high school years as they often did on quiet, reflective days. It had been over a decade since she’d left her small hometown for the promise of a bigger life in New York. Now, at thirty-four, she was back for the first time, helping her parents pack up the family home before they moved to Florida. “Emma?” Her heart stopped at the sound of that voice, rich and warm despite the years. She turned, clutching her scarf like a lifeline. There he was—Alex Hayes. He looked different, older, with a faint shadow of a beard and lines etched faintly at the corners of his deep brown eyes. Yet, he was unmistakable. The boy she’d loved so fiercely in high school, the boy she’d let go when her dreams had taken her away. “Alex,” she breathed, her voice catching. He smiled, that same crooked grin that had once made her heart race. “I thought it was you. Mind if I join you?” She nodded, unable to speak as he slid into the chair across from her. “I heard you were back in town,” he said, his gaze searching hers. “Didn’t think I’d actually run into you, though.” “I didn’t think I’d see you either,” she admitted. “How’ve you been?” He hesitated, running a hand through his dark hair. “I’m good. Still in town, working as a contractor. What about you? Big city life treating you well?” Emma smiled faintly. “It has its moments. I work in publishing now, but... it’s not as glamorous as people think.” Alex chuckled. “I can imagine.” He paused, his smile softening. “You look good, Emma. Like time hasn’t touched you.” She felt a blush rise to her cheeks. “You’re kind.” For a moment, they simply looked at each other, the years falling away. --- High School, 2005 Emma and Alex had been inseparable, the golden couple of their senior year. She was the editor of the school newspaper, and he was the star of the soccer team. Their love had been passionate and all-consuming, filled with late-night talks, stolen kisses, and plans for the future. But when Emma received a scholarship to a prestigious university in New York, everything changed. Alex, whose family needed him close, couldn’t leave town. They tried to make it work, but distance and growing ambitions pulled them apart. The breakup had been devastating, leaving scars neither fully healed from. --- Present Day “So,” Alex said, pulling her back to the present. “Are you here for long?” “Just a few weeks,” Emma replied. “Helping my parents move.” “Ah, the old empty-nest syndrome,” he teased, and she laughed softly. “You always did have a way of making me laugh,” she said, her smile fading as old emotions stirred. “I’ve missed that.” His gaze grew serious. “I’ve missed you too, Emma. More than you know.” She looked down, her fingers tracing the rim of her coffee cup. “Alex... why didn’t we try harder? To stay in touch, I mean.” He sighed, leaning back in his chair. “I thought about calling you a hundred times, but every time, I convinced myself you were better off without me holding you back.” Her head shot up, her eyes wide. “Holding me back? Alex, I never thought of you that way.” “I know,” he said quietly. “But you had so much ahead of you, Emma. I didn’t want to be the one thing keeping you tied to a town you couldn’t wait to leave.” Her heart ached at his words. “You were never just a ‘thing,’ Alex. You were... everything.” The vulnerability in her voice made his breath catch. For a moment, the world outside the café disappeared, leaving only the two of them. --- Over the next few days, they began to spend more time together. Alex showed Emma how the town had changed since she left—the new park by the river, the refurbished library, and his favorite diner where they’d once spent countless hours. With each moment, their connection deepened, as though no time had passed at all. One evening, they found themselves walking along the quiet streets, the sky painted in hues of pink and orange. “Do you ever think about what could’ve been?” Emma asked softly. “Every day,” Alex admitted. “But I also know that who we are now might not exist if we hadn’t taken different paths back then.” She nodded, understanding his words even as her heart ached. “Do you think it’s too late for us?” He stopped, turning to face her. “I don’t know. But I do know one thing—I never stopped loving you, Emma.” Her breath hitched, tears springing to her eyes. “I never stopped loving you either.” --- In the days that followed, they talked about everything—their dreams, their fears, and the pain of losing each other. They agreed to take things slow, to see where life would lead them now that they’d found their way back to each other. When Emma left town two weeks later, it was with a renewed sense of hope. Alex promised to visit her in New York, and she promised to return to their hometown more often. For the first time in years, the future felt bright, and their hearts felt whole. Because some loves, no matter how much time passes, are simply timeless. ---

zoeee♪