Maya knelt beside her bed, her fingers loosely intertwined, her head bowed—not out of habit, but out of need.
For the first time in a long while, she did not pray out of desperation.
She prayed for release.
"God… please," her voice was soft, almost fragile in the quiet room. "Take this anger away from me."
The words felt heavier than any she had spoken before.
"I don't want to hate him," she continued, her breath trembling slightly. "I don't want to carry this bitterness. It's exhausting… it's consuming me."
She paused, her chest rising and falling slowly.
"I don't want to become someone I don't recognize."
Silence followed.
But it wasn't empty.
It felt… listening.
"Help me let go," she whispered. "Not just of him… but of everything that's tying me to that pain."
Her fingers loosened.
Her shoulders dropped.
"And if I can't forget him immediately… then help me stop thinking about him. Even if it's little by little. Just… give me peace."
A tear slipped down her cheek.
Not painful.
Not suffocating.
Just… soft.
"Amen."
She remained there for a moment longer before slowly rising to her feet.
Something inside her had shifted.
Not dramatically.
Not completely.
But enough.
Enough to breathe a little easier.
—
Life at the Estate had begun to feel… lighter.
Not perfect.
Not untouched by the past.
But different.
Maya found herself laughing again—real laughter this time, not the hollow echoes she had grown used to.
Adela noticed it first.
"You're smiling without forcing it," she said one afternoon, watching Maya from across the room.
Maya blinked, slightly surprised.
"Am I?"
Adela smiled knowingly. "Yes."
Tatiana, seated beside her, nodded in agreement. "It's about time."
Daario, leaning casually against the window, added with a smirk, "I was starting to think we'd have to stage an intervention."
Maya rolled her eyes lightly, but the smile remained.
"I'm fine," she said.
And this time—
It wasn't a lie.
Days passed gently.
She spent mornings walking through the gardens, letting the quiet calm her thoughts.
Afternoons were filled with books, writing, and soft conversations.
Evenings brought shared meals, laughter, and a sense of belonging she hadn't realized she had lost.
And slowly—
Without effort—
Calvin stopped occupying her mind.
Not completely.
Not yet.
But enough.
Enough that she could go hours without thinking of him.
Enough that when his memory surfaced, it didn't suffocate her.
It simply… passed.
Like a cloud drifting across the sky.
—
A week after Calvin's brief visit to London, Maya finalized something she had been quietly preparing for.
She was done.
Not emotionally.
That would take time.
But physically—
Practically—
She was done.
She scheduled a moving company.
Set a date.
And didn't look back.
—
New York greeted her with its usual indifference.
The air felt colder.
Sharper.
But Maya didn't shrink under it.
She stood tall.
Grounded.
The movers arrived promptly, efficient and professional.
"Everything that belongs to me," she instructed calmly.
Her voice held no hesitation.
No doubt.
They nodded and began.
Room by room.
Item by item.
Everything she had bought.
Everything she had paid for.
Everything that was hers.
They packed it all.
The condo, once filled with her presence, began to empty quickly.
And with every box carried out—
Maya felt lighter.
As though pieces of her that had been left behind were finally returning to her.
Calvin wasn't there.
And for that—
She was grateful.
No confrontation.
No words.
No reopening wounds that had barely begun to close.
Just silence.
And closure.
—
Eventually, she walked into the bedroom.
The last place.
The final space.
Her steps slowed.
Not out of pain—
But acknowledgment.
This was where everything had once been real.
Where love had existed.
Or at least—
Where she had believed it did.
She moved toward the dresser.
Opened the first drawer.
And paused.
There they were.
The necklace.
The journal.
The bracelet.
Gifts she had given him.
Carefully chosen.
Thoughtfully given.
Pieces of her love, preserved in objects that no longer held meaning.
Her fingers brushed over them lightly.
Then she reached into her bag.
Pulled out the final piece.
The other half of the customized bracelet she had gotten for his most recent birthday.
For a moment—
She simply looked at it.
Then, gently—
She placed it inside.
With the rest.
Closed the drawer.
And just like that—
It was done.
No dramatic goodbye.
No lingering touch.
Just a quiet ending.
A closed chapter.
—
When everything was packed, Maya stepped back into the living room.
The condo looked unfamiliar now.
Empty.
Messy.
Stripped of warmth.
She gave it one last glance.
Not emotional.
Not nostalgic.
Just… dismissive.
Then she turned.
Walked to the door.
And closed it behind her.
Without looking back.
—
The airport was crowded.
Loud.
Alive.
But Maya felt distant from it all.
Not disconnected—
Just… calm.
Her flight was delayed.
Weather issues.
She sighed softly but didn't let it frustrate her.
Instead, she decided to eat.
The nearest deli was warm and inviting.
The scent of food wrapped around her gently as she stepped inside.
She ordered something simple.
Warm.
Comforting.
And for the first time in days—
She ate properly.
Not because she forced herself.
But because she wanted to.
When she stepped out of the restaurant, adjusting her bag slightly—
She walked straight into something solid.
A wall.
No—
A chest.
Firm.
Unyielding.
Warm hands caught her instantly, steadying her before she could fall.
Her breath hitched.
Maya looked up.
And froze.
He was—
Beautiful.
No.
That wasn't enough.
He was the most handsome man she had ever seen.
Her breath caught.
A soft, unconscious gasp escaped her lips.
She blinked.
Once.
Twice.
As if trying to confirm he was real.
The corners of his lips lifted slightly.
His gaze remained fixed on her—
Intense.
Curious.
Almost… captivated.
Like she was the most fascinating thing he had seen.
Time stilled.
Completely.
Their eyes locked.
Neither moving.
Neither speaking.
Just… looking.
As though something unspoken had passed between them.
Something quiet.
But undeniable.
A throat cleared.
Sharp.
Interrupting.
The moment shattered.
Maya blinked again, suddenly aware.
Aware of his hands.
Still on her.
Warm.
Steady.
She stepped back slightly.
And immediately—
Missed them.
Her eyes dropped quickly.
Avoiding his gaze.
While he—
Missed her eyes just as instantly.
The other man leaned toward him, whispering something.
Maya barely noticed.
She was too aware of him.
Tall.
Broad.
Imposing.
Even in a tailored suit, his presence was commanding.
Dominating.
And yet—
There was something controlled about him.
Something deliberate.
She smiled shyly.
Then—
Almost ran.
—
Back at the airport, her flight was still delayed.
She settled into a seat.
Tried to distract herself.
But her mind—
Kept drifting.
Back to him.
The way he looked at her.
The warmth of his hands.
The slight curve of his lips.
She stood eventually, deciding to visit the restroom.
And once again—
Walked straight into him.
The same solid chest.
The same immediate warmth.
His hands caught her again.
As though it was instinct.
As though he expected her.
This time—
She smiled.
A real smile.
Bright.
Unfiltered.
And something in his expression shifted.
Softened.
"It seems," he said, his voice deep and husky, "you can't run from me."
Her breath caught again.
But she smiled.
Averted her gaze slightly.
"Yes," she replied softly.
He didn't let go immediately.
And when he did—
They both felt it.
The absence.
"I'm Maya," she said, extending her hand.
"Nice to meet you."
He took her hand almost instantly.
His grip firm.
Warm.
Grounding.
"Rege," he said.
His voice—
Low.
Smooth.
Dangerously captivating.
He didn't release her hand.
Instead—
His fingers shifted slightly.
Caressing her wrist.
Gently.
But intentionally.
Her breath softened.
Her heart—
Reacted.
She didn't understand it.
Didn't try to.
She just… felt it.
Then—
Her flight was announced.
Reality returned.
She slowly pulled her hand away.
Reluctantly.
He let it go.
But his gaze lingered.
She turned.
Walked toward departure.
But just before disappearing—
She looked back.
He was still there.
Watching her.
She smiled.
One last time.
And walked away.
—
On the plane—
She couldn't stop thinking about him.
His voice.
His touch.
The way he looked at her—
Like she mattered.
She found herself smiling.
Softly.
Giggling under her breath.
It felt—
Strange.
Light.
Unfamiliar.
But… beautiful.
Eventually, exhaustion claimed her.
Her body gave in.
Her mind quieted.
And for the first time in a long while—
Maya slept peacefully.
A soft smile resting on her lips.
Even in her dreams.
Something had changed.
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
But gently.
Like the beginning of something new.
Something unknown.
And for once—
She didn't fear it.
She welcomed it.