Fixing whats broken
Weeks passed. The pain lingered, sharp and raw, but slowly, life began to creep back in. Nicole threw herself into work, taking extra shifts at the bistro, and Ruby focused on herself, rediscovering hobbies she had long abandoned. They were still broken, but the pieces didn’t feel quite as jagged anymore.
One rainy evening, Nicole found herself walking through the park near their old apartment. It had been Ruby’s favorite spot—a place where they’d spent countless afternoons talking, laughing, and dreaming about the future. The memories felt bittersweet, but instead of turning away, Nicole sat on a bench and let herself remember.
Across town, Ruby was sorting through old photographs when she came across a picture of the two of them, arms wrapped around each other, smiles wide and genuine. She stared at it for a long time, her heart aching with a mixture of longing and regret. She had thought letting go was the answer, but now she wasn’t so sure. Maybe they hadn’t been ready to fix things before, but was it too late now?
The next day, Nicole was working a slow lunch shift when the bell above the bistro door jingled. She glanced up, her breath catching when she saw Ruby standing there, a hesitant smile on her face. Ruby looked different—calmer, more grounded—but her eyes still held the same warmth that had drawn Nicole in all those years ago.
“Hi,” Ruby said softly, stepping closer to the counter.
Nicole blinked, unsure if she was imagining this. “Hi,” she managed, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ruby shifted nervously, her hands fidgeting with the strap of her bag. “I… I wasn’t sure if I should talk to you, but I’ve been thinking a lot. About us. About everything.”
Nicole’s heart raced. She didn’t know what to say, so she just nodded, waiting for Ruby to continue.
“I was right,” Ruby said, her voice steady but full of emotion. “We needed time apart. We were hurting each other, and we couldn’t see a way out. But… I think we were both just scared. Scared of losing each other, scared of failing. And I don’t want to be scared anymore.”
Tears welled up in Nicole’s eyes. “Ruby, I—”
“Wait,” Ruby interrupted gently, her lips curving into a small, nervous smile. “Let me finish. I don’t know if we can fix everything, but I want to try. I want to be better—for you, for me, for us. If you still want that too.”
Nicole’s tears spilled over, but this time they weren’t from sadness. She stepped out from behind the counter, closing the distance between them. “I’ve never stopped wanting that,” she said, her voice trembling. “I’ll do whatever it takes, Ruby. I just want us to be happy.”
Ruby reached for Nicole’s hand, intertwining their fingers. “Then let’s figure it out together. No more running, no more pretending. Just… us. One step at a time.”
Nicole nodded, her heart swelling with hope for the first time in months. “Together.”
The two of them stood there, holding on to each other as the world continued to buzz around them. It wouldn’t be easy—they both knew that—but for the first time in a long time, they felt like they were on the same team again.
And that was enough to start rebuilding.