Ten Years Wasted Before Spring Chapter 13
We cooked together, ate together, and talked.
It felt natural, like being with an old friend.
“When I first came to Seattle, I was lost,” I said. “I had no
idea what the future would look like.”
“And now?” he asked.
“Now I think everything is good.”
He smiled.
“Then that’s enough.”
After dinner, we sat on the balcony and looked at the
stars.
Seattle’s night sky was clear, the stars brighter than usual.
“Celia,” Rowan said softly, “I know what you’ve been through.”
I turned to him.
“I don’t care about your past.” His eyes were gentle under the starlight. “I only want to be part of your future.”
Something moved in my heart.
“Rowan, I…”
He reached out and held my hand.
“No rush. I can wait.”
His hand was warm, dry, and steady.
Looking at him, I suddenly thought maybe I really could try loving again.
Not because he was perfect.
But because I was ready.
“Okay,” I said softly.
He froze, then smiled.
His smile was brighter than the stars.
In that moment, I understood.
The right person doesn’t need you to change yourself or swallow your hurt to keep them.
They arrive at the right time and offer the right kind of/
warmth.
Like a breath of fresh air. Effortless. Natural.
By the end of the year, I had been promoted to vice president of the Seattle branch.
My career was thriving.
My relationship with Rowan was steady too.
We didn’t rush. We learned each other slowly.
It felt good.
Sometimes I still heard news about Everett and Brynn.
Everett had to sell the condo to pay off his debts, and they moved into a small rental on the edge of the city.
Everett changed jobs several times and never seemed to settle.
Brynn tried to return to content creation, but the response was lukewarm.
I heard they fought often. About money. About the day-to-day grind. About the past.
But none of that had anything to do with me anymore.
Everyone must live with their choices.
They chose each other.
Now they had to carry the consequences.
And I chose to move forward.
For Thanksgiving, I went back to my hometown to see my
parents.
I passed the candy store Brynn and I used to visit as kids and realized it was still there.
The owner had gone gray, but he recognized me.
“Celia, is that you?” he said with a smile. “I haven’t seen you in so long. Where’s Brynn?”
I smiled.
“She’s busy.”
After leaving the shop, I stood in the sunlight and took a photo, then sent it to Rowan.
[This candy tastes just like when we were kids.]
He replied quickly.
[Take me there next time.]
I looked at the message and smiled.
Next time.
There would be so many next times waiting for me.
Life is long. Taking a few wrong turns is normal.
What matters is turning back in time and looking
forward.
As for the wrong people and the wrong things?
Let them stay in the past.
There is better scenery ahead.
And better people worth meeting.
