As the cafe's radio began to play a soft, acoustic melody, Elias looked at their hands on the table, inches apart. The fear of another "goodbye" was there, but it was smaller than the ache of the last decade. He realized that they weren't the same people who had walked away; they were older, scarred, and finally wise enough to know what a second chance looked like.
Clara took the seat across from him without being asked. She looked the same, yet entirely different; the sharp edges of her youth had softened into a weary, beautiful kind of grace. Maybe This Time - Michael Martin Murphey (Lyrics) рџЋµ
Ten years ago, they had stood on a different street in a different city, letting pride and "better opportunities" pull them in opposite directions. There was no big fight, just a quiet surrender to the idea that they weren't meant to be. As the cafe's radio began to play a