Recuérdame

Regina (POV)

The decision to come to the Rabbit Hole tonight, which initially seemed like a good idea, began to fade as I walked through the streets of Storybrooke. Each step toward the bar felt heavier, dragging with it memories of that karaoke night at Granny’s—a night that still echoed in my mind, as it was the last time Robin and I had gone to a crowded place in town.

As I entered, the vibrant atmosphere of the bar hit me all at once—a sharp contrast to the storm of emotions I carried inside. The cheerful faces and laughter surrounded me, but my attention focused on one person: Emma. I saw her from the entrance, laughing with Ruby and Snow, though her laughter barely masked the sadness in her eyes—a sadness I knew I had caused.

For a moment, I stood frozen, torn between the desire to approach her and the prudence of staying away. The last thing I wanted was to cause her more pain, yet the selfish part of me yearned to know if there was still a place for me in her life, in any form.

Before I could make a decision, I saw Hook approach her, his characteristic confident smile on his face. A knot formed in my stomach as I watched his pirate charm lean toward her, whispering words I couldn’t hear but could easily imagine. A pang of jealousy hit me, sharp and unexpected. Seconds later, he invited her to dance. Emma hesitated but eventually accepted, and I watched them head to the dance floor.

My heart clenched as I watched them together—the way he effortlessly led her on the floor. Though I knew I had no right to feel this way, I couldn’t help it. Seeing them dance reminded me painfully of what I had given up, what I had lost.

I tried to avert my gaze, to focus on something else—anything else—but it was futile. My eyes kept drifting back to them, as if tethered to the scene against my will. Each shared laugh between Emma and Hook, every look they exchanged, felt like a tiny cut on my already fragile heart.

When the song ended and they parted ways, Emma thanked Hook and walked off. He watched her with a mix of amusement and something deeper. I wondered if he felt something for Emma, if she was considering letting him into her life. The thought hurt more than I expected.

I decided I needed a drink—something strong to calm my nerves and quiet these feelings.

I made my way through the crowd to the bar and ordered a drink. While I waited, I forced myself not to look toward the dance floor, toward where Emma had gone. But it was no use; my attention inevitably wandered back to her.

With the drink in hand and my gaze repeatedly straying toward Emma, her presence in the bar tormented me with thoughts of what could have been. A sudden idea crossed my mind: I needed to leave—to escape this labyrinth of emotions I was trapped in.

I resolved to find Robin. I told myself it was the right thing to do—that I should apologize for coming here and leaving him alone, the one who, after all, had chosen to be by my side. I searched for an excuse to flee this situation, to escape Emma’s gaze that I felt burning into my back, even though I wasn’t sure she was actually watching me.

I found Robin among a group of his companions, laughing and sharing stories. For a moment, I paused, observing the ease with which he interacted with them—the simplicity of his happiness. I approached with hesitant steps, still holding the drink I had barely touched.

“Robin,” I called, and he turned, his face lighting up when he saw me.

“Regina, are you feeling better?” His concern was evident, and I felt even more guilty for the excuse I was about to give him.

“I’m still feeling a bit dizzy. I’m sorry. I think I need to head home and rest,” I said, trying to infuse my voice with a conviction I didn’t feel.

He frowned, clearly disappointed, but he nodded. “Of course, what matters is that you feel better. Do you want me to come with you?”

His question caught me off guard. I hadn’t considered that he might offer to leave with me, complicating my plan to escape.

“No, no, stay. Enjoy yourself with your friends. I… I just need to lie down. I promise I’ll make it up to you,” I quickly replied, hoping he wouldn’t detect the hesitation in my voice.

Robin studied me for a moment longer, then slowly nodded, though I could still see the worry in his eyes. “Alright, but please text me when you get home. And if you need anything, don’t hesitate to call me.”

“I will. Thank you,” I said, and after a brief hug, I turned to leave—not without casting one last glance toward where Emma was. Our eyes met for a brief second, and in that moment, all the unspoken words, all the unexpressed feelings, seemed to hang in the air between us.

With a heavy heart, I made my way through the crowd and out of the Rabbit Hole. The cool night air hit me like a bucket of reality. As I walked away, the music and laughter from the bar faded behind me, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the echo of what might have been.

Tonight, perhaps, there had been no confrontations or dramatic revelations. But in my retreat, in my decision to leave, I knew I had left a part of myself behind—a part that still, despite everything, longed for what Emma and I could have been.