The last time Jordan had seen Riley was on a crisp autumn evening, ten years ago. Words had failed them back then—unsaid apologies, unanswered questions, and the ghost of a love too heavy to carry yet impossible to let go of. Jordan never expected to hear from Riley again. But as fate would have it, the night brought a single text that changed everything.
“Hey, Jo. It’s been a while. Can we talk?”
Jordan’s heart nearly leapt out of their chest. After so long, Riley’s name on the screen felt like a mirage. They stared at the message, fingers hovering over the keyboard, before finally typing a response.
“Sure. When and where?”
The younger of the two, Riley, was now in a stable relationship—a serious one. Their partner, Quinn, was steady, kind, and everything Riley thought they wanted. Yet, the sight of Jordan at the door that evening unraveled the neatly constructed life Riley had built. Jordan, too, had someone waiting for them at home: an amiable, patient partner who didn’t know the name that still echoed in Jordan’s dreams.
“Wow, it’s really you,” Riley said softly, their voice trembling as they opened the door wider.
“It’s me,” Jordan replied with a faint smile, stepping inside.
They embraced cautiously, the hug lingering just a second too long. The air between them was heavy with things left unsaid. Sitting down in the living room, Jordan and Riley began to peel back the layers of time—where they’d been, who they’d become, and the quiet ache of roads not taken.
Hours passed like minutes. Riley poured them each a second glass of wine, their laughter ringing out when Jordan told a ridiculous story about a botched hiking trip. But beneath the nostalgia, Jordan noticed something in Riley’s eyes—an unease, a flicker of something unresolved.
“You’re happy, right?” Jordan asked suddenly, catching Riley off guard.
“I am,” Riley said, the lie barely settling on their tongue. “And you?”
Jordan nodded, though their smile faltered. “Yeah. I guess I am.”
The words hovered between them, neither believing the other. When it became clear the hour was late, Jordan stood to leave. Riley walked them to the door, the weight of their reunion pressing down like a storm cloud. They exchanged polite goodbyes, unsure if this would be the last time they’d see each other.
But just as Jordan turned to go, Riley reached out and grabbed their arm.
“Wait,” Riley whispered, their voice cracking.
Jordan froze, looking down at their hand on the sleeve. The moment stretched on, breathless and fragile. And then, before either could think better of it, Riley pulled Jordan into a kiss.
It wasn’t a timid kiss. It was desperate, electric—a kiss that rewrote the rules of the universe instantly. It was the kind of kiss that didn’t ask permission, that demanded the world stand still.
When they pulled apart, their faces inches away, both were breathless.
“I—” Riley began, but Jordan shook their head, a sad smile tugging at their lips.
“Don’t,” Jordan murmured. “We both know…”
Riley nodded, tears threatening to spill. They didn’t need to finish the sentence. The kiss was a reminder of what they had been and what they still could be—but life had forged paths too tangled to unravel overnight.
As Jordan stepped out into the cool night air, Riley leaned against the doorway, watching them leave with a heart that ached anew. The door closed softly behind them, but their mind remained wide open, replaying every second of the night.
Somewhere down the road, Jordan pulled their car over and gripped the steering wheel, their head falling against it with a hollow thud. They had told themselves they wouldn’t let this happen—but some loves refuse to be buried.
Neither could explain it, but both knew that their story wasn’t over. Life had pulled them apart once, but fate had whispered again, and its voice was getting louder.
Photo by Vystralith on Unsplash
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