“W-what are you doing here?” My voice came out soft, almost a whisper, trembling with disbelief.
Liam stood there in my doorway, looking just as stunned as I felt, his wide eyes locked on mine. He was dressed casually—jeans, a hoodie, his hair a little messy, probably from the long trip. He stepped forward, hesitant, never breaking eye contact.
“I… I had to see you,” he said, his voice low and rough, like he’d been on the move for hours. “Can I… come in?” His nervousness was obvious, and after a beat of hesitation, I stepped aside to let him into my apartment.
He brushed past me, his gaze sweeping over the room. He looked worn out—pale, with shadows under his eyes, like he hadn’t slept in days. Then he turned to me, his stare intense, searching my face for something. The silence stretched between us, thick with tension, both of us too scared to break it.
Finally, he spoke. “Mira… I messed up so bad letting you go. After talking to Sophie, I couldn’t shake it—I knew I had to get on a plane and come here to see you. Mira, I still love you.”
His words crashed over me like a wave, catching me completely off guard. My heart skipped, and I just stared at him, my mind spinning as I tried to wrap my head around what he’d said. His eyes were raw with honesty, brimming with a longing I could feel deep in my chest. I stood there, frozen, emotions churning—shock, hope, fear all tangled up together.
After what felt like forever, I found my voice, barely above a whisper. “Liam… I… I don’t even know what to say…”
He took a shaky breath. “I know we thought splitting up was the right call, that we had to chase our own dreams. But Mira, my dreams don’t mean anything without you.” He paused, running a hand through his hair, then kept going. “Soccer’s huge for me—it always will be—but you’re just as big a part of my life. Without you, it all feels hollow. I love you, Mira. I love you so much, and I miss you every single day. Please, take me back.” His voice cracked as he pleaded. “I’ll do long-distance—I don’t care how hard it is. Just give me another chance. We’ll figure it out together. I can’t lose you again.”
Tears pricked my eyes as his words hit me, his raw honesty and desperation breaking something open inside me. Anger, sadness, and this aching longing surged up all at once—I’d missed him more than I’d let myself admit, and I still loved him, deep down.
I stepped closer, my voice trembling. “Liam… you don’t know how much I’ve missed you. How much I’ve wanted to hear you say that.”
My hand reached out, brushing his face, my fingers tracing the familiar line of his jaw, needing to feel that he was really here, not some dream I’d wake up from. I looked into his eyes, searching for any flicker of doubt, but all I found was love—steady, unwavering.
My voice broke as I went on. “But… are you sure? Long-distance isn’t easy. Are you really ready for that?”
He grabbed my hands, holding them tight, his grip warm and solid. “I’m sure, Mira. I’ve never been more certain of anything. I don’t care if we’re apart for months—I just want you. I want us to work.” His eyes bored into mine, fierce and earnest. “I’ll do whatever it takes. I’ll fly out here whenever I can, we’ll call, video chat, text every day—whatever keeps us together. I’m not losing you again. You’re the love of my life, and I’ll fight to keep you in it.” He squeezed my hands harder, his voice thick with resolve.
A lump swelled in my throat as his promise sank in, overwhelming me with its weight. I took a shaky breath, steadying myself, and nodded slowly. “Okay,” I whispered, so quiet I wasn’t sure he’d hear.
But he did. I looked up, tears shining in my eyes, and saw the hope ignite in his. I stepped closer, closing the gap, and wrapped my arms around his neck, pressing my face into his shoulder. I held on tight, breathing him in—the warmth, the familiar feel of him—like coming home. “I love you too, Liam,” I murmured into his ear. “I never stopped.”
I clung to him, relief and joy flooding through me, washing away the heaviness I’d been carrying for so long. Liam’s arms circled me, pulling me in close, and he whispered back, “I’m so sorry I let you go, Mira. I’m sorry I was selfish, that I didn’t back your dreams. I swear I’ll make it right—I’ll be there for you, every step, no matter what.” He eased back just enough to look at me, his face soft with tenderness. “You’re everything to me. I’ll spend every day proving that.”
His hand brushed a stray hair from my face, fingers lingering along my cheek. “We’ll make new memories—build something even better than before.” He leaned in, his lips so close I could feel his breath, his eyes asking permission. “Can I kiss you?”
The second our lips touched, it was like time stopped. Everything else—the room, the city—faded into nothing, leaving just us, just this. The kiss was soft but fierce, all the pent-up love and longing spilling out after too long apart.
Liam’s arms tightened around me, pulling me closer, like he was afraid I’d slip away again. We kissed like we were chasing all the moments we’d lost, pouring everything into it—every missed chance, every unspoken word.
When we finally pulled apart, we were breathless, foreheads pressed together, staring at each other with dazed, happy eyes. A small, joyful smile tugged at Liam’s lips. “I’ve missed this so much,” he said, his voice rough with feeling.
“Me too,” I whispered back, still shaky from the rush of it all.
He leaned in again, slower this time, savoring every second of the kiss. And as we stood there, wrapped up in each other, I felt this deep calm settle over me—like the pieces of my world were finally clicking back together.
The rest of the night melted away as we gave in to everything we’d held back. I melted into his touch, the city outside my window disappearing as we lost ourselves in each other. Lying beside him later, tangled in the sheets, I felt a quiet peace I hadn’t known in months. This was where I was meant to be—with Liam. Whatever came next, we’d face it together. And as I drifted off in his arms, I knew our story wasn’t over—it was just starting again.
———
Months stretched into years, and Liam and I tackled the rollercoaster of long-distance love. It wasn’t simple—our story was messy, stitched together with late-night calls that stretched across time zones, endless texts, and the ache of being apart. But every challenge only made us stronger, our love growing deeper, tougher, more real with every passing day.
We squeezed every drop out of the time we got together, building new memories—weekends in Italy wandering cobblestone streets, trips to the Philippines where we’d laugh over old haunts with friends. Whenever we could, we’d hop on planes, crossing oceans just to steal a few days together.
When my graduation day rolled around, Liam pulled off the surprise of a lifetime. He didn’t just show up—he brought my family and friends with him, flying halfway across the world to cheer me on. Standing on that stage, clutching my degree, I scanned the crowd and found them—my parents, my crew, and Liam, his proud smile lighting up the room. His eyes locked on mine, brimming with love, and my heart swelled. Right then, I knew choosing him was the best call I’d ever made.
Back in the Philippines, we celebrated hard—laughter, food, and stories with everyone I’d missed. Then Liam caught me off guard again. In the middle of it all, he dropped to one knee, a ring glinting in his hand, and asked me to spend forever with him. Tears blurred my yes, and the room erupted in cheers.
A year later, we stood hand in hand, saying “I do” with our loved ones all around us. The day was a blur of joy—music, vows, and the promise of a life together. From there, we kept building, holding each other up through life’s highs and lows.
Time flew, and soon we were parents—two little ones filling our days with chaos and love. Liam and I stumbled through parenthood together, figuring it out as we went, leaning on each other when the nights got long.
As a family, we took on the world—traveling to new places, soaking in different cultures, trying to leave things a little better wherever we went. Our kids grew up with passports full of stamps and stories of their own, and through it all, Liam and I stayed each other’s anchor.
Our love never wavered—it was the steady heartbeat of our lives, a light that kept us going no matter what came our way. Looking back, we’d carved out a life brimming with adventure, messy beautiful moments, and a happiness that felt hard-earned and true.
And as we stood together, years down the line, we knew the end of one chapter was just the start of the next. The real story—the one that mattered—was still unfolding, and we’d write it side by side.
The End.