Tentative Steps

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Chapter Sixteen: Tentative Steps

Raveena wasn’t sure how to move forward. Apologizing to Damien had been the first step, but she knew it wasn’t enough. Trust wasn’t something you could rebuild overnight.

But Damien hadn’t turned her away. He hadn’t forgiven her outright, but he hadn’t closed the door either. And that sliver of hope was enough for her to cling to.

She started small, sending him messages at night like they used to. At first, his responses were short, almost curt, but over time they grew longer, warmer.

Raveena: Did you finish that book you were reading?

Damien: Yeah. Ending sucked though.

Raveena: What happened?

Damien: The guy gave up on everything he wanted for someone else.

Raveena: Isn’t that supposed to be romantic?

Damien: Not when it costs him himself.

She stared at his reply, her fingers hovering over the keyboard.

Raveena: I’m sorry.

His response came quickly.

Damien: I know.

It wasn’t forgiveness, but it was something.

The following week, Damien surprised her by joining her at lunch. He didn’t ask if the seat was taken, just dropped his bag down and started eating as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

The conversation was stilted at first, filled with awkward pauses and hesitant glances. But gradually, the silence between them began to soften.

He asked about her classes, about her favorite books, about mundane things that made the tension ease.

And slowly, Raveena felt the weight on her chest lighten.

One day, he handed her a book with a tattered cover. “Thought you might like this.”

She glanced down at it, noting the worn pages, the underlined passages. “You’ve read this before?”

“A few times.” He smiled faintly. “Some stories are worth revisiting.”

The meaning behind his words wasn’t lost on her.

That night, she stayed up late, reading his book, feeling closer to him with every page.

Raveena’s mother noticed the change before anyone else.

“You’ve been smiling more,” she commented one morning, her eyes tired but observant.

Raveena shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. “Just... been having a better week.”

Her mother nodded slowly, stirring her coffee. “Is it a boy?”

The question made her pause. How could she explain Damien? How could she capture the way he made her feel seen and terrified all at once?

“Just a friend,” Raveena said, though even she didn’t fully believe it.

Her mother gave her a small, wistful smile. “Friends can be good for the soul.”

Raveena nodded, the warmth of her mother’s words settling in her chest. Maybe, just maybe, she could let herself believe in the goodness of people again.

One evening, as they walked home together, Damien paused under a flickering streetlight. The air was cool, the sun dipping below the horizon.

“Do you ever think about leaving?” he asked, his gaze distant.

Raveena followed his line of sight, watching the horizon blur into shades of pink and purple. “Leaving where?”

“Here. This town. This life.”

She considered it. “Sometimes. But running away doesn’t fix things.”

“No,” Damien agreed, stuffing his hands in his pockets. “But sometimes a fresh start helps.”

They stood in comfortable silence, the world around them slowing down.

“Would you ever take me with you?” she asked quietly.

He looked at her, his eyes softer than she’d ever seen them. “Always.”

And for once, she believed him.

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Their relationship was a series of almosts—almost touching, almost confessing, almost trusting completely.