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*Chapter 4: The Repair*
It was raining the night Eli showed up at Maya's door. No warning—just the soft knock she almost didn't hear.
She opened the door, surprised, hesitant.
He stood there, damp, holding nothing but his heart.
"I don't have perfect words," he said. "But I have the truth. I got scared, Maya. I've lost before… and when it started to feel real with you, I panicked."
Maya crossed her arms, trying to stay guarded. But her voice trembled:
"You made me feel like I was reaching for someone who wasn't really there."
"I was there," he said, "just hiding behind a wall I thought would protect me. I know I hurt you."
She stepped back, letting him in—physically and emotionally. They sat on the couch, close but careful.
"I want us," he continued. "Not perfectly. Not rushed. Just real. But only if you still do too."
Maya took a long breath. "I'm not asking for perfect either. Just honesty. Presence. Effort."
They talked deep into the night—no blaming, no defending, just understanding. Small laughs replaced tension. Apologies replaced silence.
By morning, something broken had started to heal. Not erased, not forgotten—but mended with softness, truth, and choice.
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