UNCOMPLETE LOVE

Lena lay awake that night, staring at the ceiling of her apartment. She had thought that after her conversation with Ethan at the lake, she would feel a sense of clarity. Instead, a strange unease settled over her, as though she had stepped into something unfamiliar—something terrifying yet hopeful.

She had said yes.

She had agreed to try again with Ethan, to take the leap despite her fears. But now that she was alone with her thoughts, a thousand doubts crowded her mind.

What if she made a mistake?

What if Ethan, despite all his efforts, hurt her again?

What if love wasn't enough?

She turned onto her side, exhaling shakily. She wanted to believe in second chances. She wanted to believe in Ethan.

But trust wasn't something that could be built overnight.

And love, no matter how strong, wasn't always enough to erase the past.

---

The First Test

The next morning, Lena and Ethan met at their usual café. It had been their spot for years—a small, quiet place tucked into a corner of the city, where they had shared everything from laughter to heartbreak.

Ethan was already seated when Lena arrived, a cup of coffee in front of him. He looked up as she approached, his expression careful.

"Hey," he greeted softly.

Lena slid into the seat across from him, offering a small smile. "Hey."

For a moment, there was silence. Not an awkward one, but the kind that comes when two people are standing at the edge of something fragile.

Ethan took a sip of his coffee before speaking. "I know this isn't going to be easy for you. For us."

Lena nodded, wrapping her hands around her cup. "I know."

"I don't want to rush you," he continued. "But I also don't want to avoid talking about the hard things."

Lena studied him for a moment. This was new. Before, Ethan had been the type to sidestep difficult conversations, to drown his emotions in distractions. But now, he was meeting her hesitation head-on.

It was unsettling. But also… comforting.

"I appreciate that," she said quietly. "Because honestly? I'm still scared."

Ethan's fingers drummed lightly against the table. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't."

Lena glanced up, surprised. "You're scared?"

Ethan gave a small, wry smile. "Of course. I don't want to mess this up again. I don't want to hurt you. And I know that no matter what I say, I have to show you that I mean it."

Lena swallowed hard. "And what if we try, and it still doesn't work?"

Ethan met her gaze, unwavering. "Then at least we'll know we gave it everything we had."

The weight of his words settled deep in her chest.

Wasn't that all anyone could do?

---

The Ghosts of the Past

The day passed in a blur of emotions. After their conversation, Lena went to her studio, trying to paint away the anxiety curling in her stomach. But no matter how much she tried, her thoughts kept drifting back to Ethan.

A part of her wanted to believe in the version of him sitting across from her at the café—the one who had learned from his mistakes, who wanted to be better.

But another part of her—the part that had been burned before—kept reminding her that people don't always change.

That evening, as she was closing up the studio, she received a text from an unknown number.

Unknown Number: Hey, Lena. I know this is unexpected, but can we talk?

Her breath caught. She knew that number.

Jason.

Her ex.

The man who had once shattered her heart in ways even Ethan hadn't.

Lena's hands trembled slightly as she stared at the screen. She hadn't spoken to Jason in over two years. What could he possibly want now?

She hesitated for a long moment before typing a response.

Lena: Why?

The reply came almost immediately.

Jason: I owe you an apology. And I think you deserve to hear it in person.

Lena's chest tightened.

Apology? Now?

After all this time?

She should ignore him. She should block his number and move on.

But something in her—some unresolved piece of the past—made her hesitate.

She needed to hear what he had to say.

Even if it hurt.

---

Ethan's Reaction

Lena met Ethan later that night at his apartment. He had cooked dinner—nothing fancy, just pasta and wine—but the effort made her heart ache in ways she wasn't ready to admit.

They ate in companionable silence for a while before Ethan noticed her distracted expression.

"You okay?" he asked, setting his fork down.

Lena bit her lip. She could lie. She could pretend everything was fine.

But that wasn't what they were doing anymore.

"I heard from Jason today," she admitted.

Ethan's entire body went rigid. His jaw clenched slightly, but his voice remained calm. "What did he want?"

"He said he wants to apologize."

Ethan was silent for a long moment. Then, carefully, he asked, "Are you going to meet him?"

Lena studied his expression. There was tension there, but not anger. Not jealousy.

"I think I need to," she admitted. "Not for him. For me."

Ethan exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. "I get it," he said finally. "I don't like it, but I get it."

Lena reached across the table, taking his hand. "This isn't about choosing between you and him. This is about letting go of something I didn't even realize I was still holding onto."

Ethan squeezed her hand. "I trust you."

The words sent a shiver through her.

Because trust was the very thing she was still learning to rebuild.

---

The Meeting

The next afternoon, Lena sat in a small café, her hands curled around a cup of tea.

Jason walked in moments later, looking almost the same—tall, dark-haired, still wearing that unreadable expression.

When he spotted her, he hesitated before walking over.

"Hey," he said, sitting down.

Lena nodded, her heart pounding. "Hey."

For a moment, they sat in silence. Then Jason sighed. "I don't know where to start."

Lena lifted a brow. "Start with why you're here."

Jason exhaled sharply. "Because I hurt you. And I've spent the last two years realizing just how badly."

Lena remained quiet, letting him continue.

"I was selfish. I was scared. And instead of being honest with you, I pushed you away. I blamed you for things that weren't your fault. And by the time I realized how much I had hurt you, it was too late."

Lena's throat tightened. "Why now?"

Jason looked down at his hands. "Because I didn't want you to think that the way I treated you was a reflection of your worth. You deserved better. You still do."

A long silence stretched between them.

And then, Lena exhaled.

For the first time in years, she felt lighter.

Because she finally understood—Jason's actions had never been about her.

They had been about him. His insecurities. His fears.

And she didn't have to carry them anymore.

She stood, grabbing her coat. "I appreciate you saying this," she said softly. "But I've already moved on."

Jason nodded. "I know. And I'm glad."

As she walked out of the café, the winter air felt different—cleaner, freer.

She had let go.

And now, she was ready to fully step into her future.

With Ethan.