Graduation Day.
"Can you believe it?" Sophie burst out, her voice brimming with disbelief as the graduation ceremony wrapped up. "We’re officially done with high school!"
Mady chimed in, her tone soft with nostalgia. "It feels like we were just freshmen yesterday. Time’s gone by so fast it’s unreal."
I glanced over at Liam, standing slightly apart from the group. His eyes were locked on me, carrying a quiet sadness that tugged at my chest. When our gazes met, he managed a small, fragile smile. I returned it, but quickly turned back to the conversation before anyone could catch the moment.
"I’m gonna miss all the drama and gossip," Ken said with a laugh. "Seriously, what am I supposed to do with my life now?"
We all cracked up, though there was an edge of truth in his joking tone.
Ace nodded. "Honestly, I’ll probably remember that stuff way more than anything we studied."
"Right?" Mady added. "And the best part is, we all had our own little roles in that high school chaos."
Laughter rippled through us, but it didn’t last. A heavy silence settled in, like a sudden fog rolling over the group. The truth hit us hard—those wild, carefree days were over. Life was about to pull us in different directions, and it felt like everything had shifted in a heartbeat.
Sophie’s voice wavered with worry. "We’ll still hang out, though, right? We’re not just gonna drift apart now that school’s done, are we?"
"Of course not!" I said, slinging an arm around her shoulders. "We’ll keep doing all our usual stuff—movie nights, beach trips, everything!"
But they all stared at me like I’d said something off. Liam, who’d been quiet until now, broke the silence. "Except you’re leaving for Italy."
The group nodded, their eyes on me, and I felt the weight of his words sink in.
Before I could find a reply, Quinn came bounding over, camera in hand. "Hey, everyone, let’s get a group photo!"
We shuffled together, grinning as she snapped a few shots. Then she stepped back, a sly grin spreading across her face. "Okay, now for something special." She looked straight at Liam and me. "Kuya, Ate Mira—how about a picture, just the two of you?"
Liam and I traded an uneasy glance. After everything that had gone down between us, it felt... awkward, to say the least.
"Come on, it’ll be fun!" Sophie urged.
"Yeah, just this once!" Mady, Ken, and Ace piled on.
"Unless you’re still hung up on each other?" they teased, smirking.
I shot them a mock glare and pretended to swat at them.
Liam’s eyes lingered on me, checking for any hint that I wasn’t okay with it. He gave me a shy smile. "Let’s just do it for them. We’re still friends, aren’t we?"
I flicked my gaze to our friends, then back to him. "Yeah, sure," I said, hesitating just a little.
He smiled again, but that trace of sadness still clung to him. He stepped closer, standing right beside me as Quinn raised the camera.
"Alright, ex-lovers, big smiles—three, two, one..." The flash went off, but Liam didn’t even glance at the lens. His eyes stayed on me, drinking in every detail of my face like it was the last time he’d see it.
Quinn giggled as we crowded around to see the photos. "What’s so funny?" Liam asked his sister.
"You," she shot back. "You’re obviously not over her."
Ken peeked at the picture of us and grinned. "You two don’t even look like exes here. More like a couple still in love!"
"You’re adorable together, right, Mira?" Ace added, teasing.
I forced a smile, brushing it off, but when I looked at the photo, there it was—Liam staring at me, his expression searching, longing. I turned to him, and our eyes locked again. He’d been watching me the whole time, just like in the picture. My heart stumbled.
Then he leaned in close, his breath warm against my ear. "Can we talk?" His voice was quiet but urgent.
I glanced at our friends, still distracted by the photos. "Sure."
We slipped away to a quiet corner of the school park and sat down. The air between us was thick, charged with unspoken things. I could feel his eyes on me, heavy and intense.
He took a deep breath. "I know it’s too late, and I know you’re leaving for Italy. But I can’t let you go without saying this—I regret letting you go, Mira. I regret not being there when you needed me most." He paused, steadying himself as emotion threatened to spill over. "I should’ve stood by you, believed in you. But I was so scared of losing you that I let that fear take over." His eyes begged for forgiveness, for me to understand.
"I’m not asking you to take me back," he went on. "I know I don’t deserve that. I just need you to know how much I hate myself for letting you slip away." His voice dropped to a whisper. "I’ll always love you, Mira. And I’ll always be proud of you, no matter where life takes you or what you accomplish." His hands clenched into fists, fighting to hold it together. "I screwed up. I let you go when I should’ve held on. I’m sorry—so damn sorry for everything." His voice broke, and he looked seconds away from falling apart.
I wanted to say something, anything, but I just sat there, staring at him. His words hit me like a tidal wave, and I didn’t know how to swim through them. It hurt—knowing where this was headed, knowing it couldn’t change anything.
"I just wanted to say goodbye the right way before you leave," he said, tears brimming in his eyes, his voice thick.
I ached to wipe those tears away, but I stopped myself, gripping the edge of my dress instead.
"I don’t want to drag you down or keep you from your dreams. So I’m letting you go, and I’ll try to move on." He stood, his gaze still fixed on me, like he was etching my face into his memory. "You’ll always have a piece of my heart, Mira."
He waited, searching my eyes for a response. But when I stayed silent, he gave a slow nod, accepting it.
He turned to walk away, then paused, glancing back one last time. "Goodbye, Mira," he whispered, the words barely audible but cutting straight through me.
As he left, I saw tears slip down his face.
I sat there alone, and suddenly my own tears came, streaming down my cheeks as I watched him disappear. That image of him—his longing, his pain—seared itself into my mind. My heart felt like it was sinking under a weight I couldn’t lift.
I didn’t want to lose him, but it was too late. We’d made our choices, and now we had to live with them.
I swiped at my tears, but they wouldn’t stop—a relentless flood of grief and regret.
I tried to tell myself I’d moved on, that I’d left Liam behind to chase my dreams. But sitting there, shattered and alone, I couldn’t lie to myself anymore. I still loved him.
Losing him—losing that love and comfort I’d relied on—still stung, sharp and raw. The hollow ache in my chest wouldn’t let me forget what I’d walked away from.
I tried to shove it all aside, to focus on what lay ahead in Italy. But no matter how hard I pushed, I couldn’t escape the feeling that part of me was gone—a part only Liam could bring back.
———
Six Months Later...
I sat alone in my apartment, clutching my phone, staring at the photo of Liam and me from graduation day. The past six months had flown by—classes, new faces, the thrill of a new country. But tonight, I was alone, homesick, and drowning in memories.
I gazed at the picture, at his face, at the way he looked at me back then. A sharp pang of longing and regret twisted inside me, and my throat tightened. I missed him—missed how safe he made me feel, how loved. I missed how he pushed me to be better.
The empty room around me felt foreign, not like home at all. The silence was suffocating, and I found myself wishing Liam and my friends were here, filling it with their voices and laughter.
Just as I started spiraling, my phone buzzed. It was Mom calling.
"Hey, Mom?" I answered, my voice quiet, laced with sadness I couldn’t mask.
"How are you, Mira?"
I took a shaky breath, trying to pull myself together. "I’m... getting by, Mom. It’s been rough, but I’m settling in. I just miss home so much. I miss... everything." My voice cracked, and a tear slid down my face.
There was a pause, and I braced myself for her to ask about Liam. But she didn’t. Instead, she said gently, "I know, sweetheart. Being so far away is tough. But you’re doing incredible things, and I’m so proud of you." Her words warmed me, but they couldn’t touch the ache inside. "Have you made any friends? How are classes?" She shifted gears, but I could hear the worry in her tone.
I sniffled, forcing myself to answer. "I’ve met a few people—they’re nice, but it’s not the same as back home. I miss my old crew." I hesitated, then let it spill. "Classes are good. I’m learning tons, but it’s hard to focus when I feel this homesick."
"Mom..." I started, my voice trembling. "I miss Liam. I know I shouldn’t, but I can’t stop thinking about him. It’s driving me nuts." I took a deep breath, steadying myself. "I thought coming to Italy would be a clean slate, but I feel more lost than ever. I keep imagining what might’ve been, the life we could’ve had if things hadn’t fallen apart." Tears welled up again. "And it’s my fault we’re not together—I left, I didn’t back his dreams. Seeing our graduation photo just brought it all rushing back. I don’t know what to do, Mom. I don’t know how to let him go." My voice broke, and I pressed my face into my hands, overwhelmed.
"Mira..." I could see the worry etched on her face through the video call. I hated crying in front of her, but I couldn’t hold it in anymore.
I sucked in a breath and looked up. "I’ve been trying to throw myself into school, into this new life here. But every time I do, Liam creeps back into my head. It’s like he’s everywhere, Mom." My eyes stung with pain. "I can’t even enjoy what I’ve worked for without feeling guilty about what I left behind. I know chasing my dreams was the right call, but what did it cost me?" My voice fell to a whisper. "I’m terrified I messed up, that I let the person I love get away for good. What if I never get past this? What if I never stop missing him?" I waited, desperate for her to say something to ease the hurt.
"I wish I could hug you right now." Her words hit me hard, and I started sobbing all over again. They were like a soft bandage on a raw wound.
"You’re going through so much, Mira. It’s okay to feel scared and unsure. But you’re tough—you’ve always been a fighter. You’ll make it through this, I know you will. You got through that mess with Briana, didn’t you? This is no different." Her voice cracked with emotion. "And Liam... love’s messy, and we screw up sometimes. But that doesn’t mean it’s gone forever. Who knows what’s down the road?" She meant to comfort me, but it just left me more tangled up inside.
I wiped my tears, trying to steady myself. "I know I’m strong, Mom. I’ve faced hard stuff before. But this? Love’s a whole different beast, and I’ve never felt this lost—especially with Liam."
"Listen, sweetheart. You made a choice, and you’ve got to live with it. But that doesn’t mean you can’t still care about him or fix things if the chance comes up." Her tone grew firm. *"You’re both grown-ups, making your own paths. If you really regret how it went down, maybe take a step back and figure out what you feel. But don’t lose sight of your own dreams, Mira—they matter too."
"Mom, I don’t even know where to start. It’s so hard."
"One step at a time, okay? Focus on school, on building your life there. When Liam pops into your head, don’t push it away—feel it, but don’t let it swallow you. You’re stronger than that. And I’m always here, just a call away if you need to talk or just want someone to listen." Her words wrapped around me like a lifeline, reminding me I wasn’t alone.
---
Worn out and raw, I fell asleep that night with my phone beside me.
I tossed and turned, trapped in a dream where Liam and I were back at graduation. But he wasn’t smiling—he was furious, hurt, pointing the finger at me. "You never cared about me. It was always about you and your dreams. You didn’t give a damn how I felt," he yelled. I tried to argue back, but my voice wouldn’t work. Guilt and regret pinned me down. Then the scene morphed—I was alone in a dark, empty room, the walls closing in, choking me with loneliness.
I jolted awake, heart pounding, tears soaking my cheeks. Just a nightmare.
I was still crying when a voice broke through. "Hello? Mira, you there?"
I bolted upright, realizing I’d accidentally called Sophie in my sleep. Her worried tone came through the line. "Mira? Are you okay? You rang me out of nowhere, and I got scared."
I took a shaky breath. "Sophie... sorry, it was an accident. I butt-dialed you. I’m fine, don’t worry."
"But I heard you crying. Are you sure you’re okay?"
"It’s nothing," I said, trying to sound steady. "I’ve gotta go—sorry again. Bye." I was about to hang up when she stopped me.
"Wait! I wanted to talk anyway. What if I came to visit you? I’m worried, and I miss you, Mira. It’s been ages since we’ve heard from you."
Her offer threw me off. Part of me was touched—she cared enough to fly out here. But I was still reeling from the nightmare, unsure if I could handle seeing anyone tied to Liam.
I steadied my voice. "Sophie, I... I don’t know. It means a lot, but it’s been rough being away. I’m not sure I’m up for visitors yet." I paused, guilt creeping in. "And I’m sorry I’ve been MIA. It’s just been a lot, and I didn’t want to dump it on anyone." I swallowed hard. "But I miss you all. Maybe seeing a familiar face wouldn’t be so bad," I admitted quietly.
Sophie’s voice softened. "Mira, I get it. It’s been hard on us too. But we’re your friends—we’re here for you. Don’t push us away, okay?" She sighed. "And honestly, it’s not just for you. I need a break from our gang and life here. University got us all losing it, and everyone’s moping around. You have no idea—we’re so stressed we just want high school back." She let out a frustrated huff, and I could picture her rolling her eyes. "I need to escape." She laughed a little, though it sounded bittersweet. "So, what do you think? Can I come? We could catch up, hang out like old times." Her hopefulness tugged at me.
"Alright, fine," I said, my voice still wobbly but firmer. "Come visit. I could use a break too. And I’ll help you dodge our friends’ drama—I know how draining that gets."
"When are you thinking of coming? I can pick you up at the airport," I offered, a flicker of excitement mixing with my nerves at the thought of seeing her again.
———
A Few Weeks Later...
I stood at the airport, eyes darting through the crowd for Sophie. My heart was racing—excited, nervous, and a little sad, knowing she’d bring back memories I wasn’t sure I was ready to face. She’d be staying a few days, crashing at my place.
Then I saw her, waving like crazy as she walked toward me. She looked beat from the flight, but her smile lit up when she spotted me.
I grinned back, warmth flooding through me. It’d been too long, and having her here felt like a gift.
We hugged, and it was like stepping back into something familiar, something I’d missed more than I realized. "Sophie! God, I’ve missed you," I said, holding her tight before pulling back to see her face.
"Missed you too! It’s been forever," she said, glancing around. "Wow, Italy’s even prettier than I pictured. You really live here—it’s wild." Her eyes took in the busy airport.
I laughed, memories of our old adventures bubbling up. "Yeah, it’s not too shabby. But it’s been lonely without you guys. I wish the whole crew could be here," I said, a touch of sadness creeping in.
Sophie’s face softened, and she gave me a knowing smile. "I get it, Mira. We’ve all missed you. But I’m here now, and we’re gonna make it count." She hooked her arm through mine. "And tough luck for them—I’ve got you all to myself now."
We both laughed as we headed to baggage claim, and I felt a spark of excitement. I couldn’t wait to spend time with her.