Chapter 1

Graduation day had finally arrived, and the air was charged with excitement and anticipation.

As I stood in line with my cap and gown, my heart raced, and my palms grew damp. It wasn’t the prospect of leaving college that made me nervous and happy at the same time; it was the fact that I would finally get to live my life without fear, and anxiety...and without my nightmare.

I had avoided him as much as possible during all those days but today, it seemed impossible to escape him. The ceremony was small, and everyone was gathered in the same place. I could feel his presence behind me, and I could feel his eyes burning a hole in the back of my head.

Trying to stay composed, I glanced around, looking for a friendly face in the crowd. I spotted my best friend, Emily, and gave her a weak smile. We would finally graduate together. Emily had always been there to support me, and today was no different. She mouthed reassuring words, reminding me to stay strong as she tilted her cap and winked at me.

The Dean’s voice boomed over the loudspeaker, announcing the commencement of the ceremony.

I took a deep breath, and the line of graduates began to move. I stepped forward, inching closer to the stage, and that’s when I felt it – a light brush against my arm. I turned my head slightly and found myself face-to-face with Ryker.

His intense blue eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, I froze. I could see a hint of something in those eyes, something different from the usual defiance. Maybe it was nerves, maybe it was regret, or sadness but I couldn’t dwell on it for long. I hastily looked away.

As we continued to inch forward in line, the fear that had gripped my heart began to subside, replaced by strange mixed emotions. Graduation day was supposed to be about celebrating our achievements, and I couldn’t let Ryker’s presence ruin it for me. I straightened my posture, held my head high, and decided that today, I would face my fear head-on and make the most of this momentous day.

---

After the small celebration outside, I happily returned home with my parents. Emily also celebrated with her parents and since we were neighbors, she didn’t go straight home but came to my room.

She flopped onto my bed, groaning in exhaustion. I immediately changed into a comfortable red shirt and soft shorts.

Emily startled me with her laugh. “I just remembered that I laughed so hard at Charlotte’s ‘valedictorian rap’ during the after-party,” she exclaimed, her laughter bubbling up again. “Did you see her trying to imitate Mr. Johnson’s monotone voice? It was so funny!”

I chuckled, taking a seat on the edge of my bed. “Charlotte’s a riot,” I agreed.

Emily’s laughter faded as she glanced at me, a touch of concern in her eyes. “Anyway, Harp. Did you see Ryker after the ceremony?”

I looked at her confused. “I didn’t. I was avoiding him, right?” I had deliberately tried to avoid Ryker during the ceremony, not wanting to ruin my graduation day with any of his entertaining games.

She sighed, her expression turning serious. “Well, I did, and something was off. Like, really off.”

“What do you mean?”

Emily hesitated for a moment as if choosing her words carefully.

“It’s hard to explain, but he looked... different. There was this weird look in his eyes, almost like he was... regretful or something. And he didn’t have that tough-guy swagger he usually has. I also noticed he was staring at you, really like his eyes followed you like a surveillance camera.”

“Ryker Blackthorn, the guy who has been a constant thorn in my side throughout those years with unyielding arrogance was staring at me is not new to me, Em. He might be scheming to continue his evilness towards me.” I told her with a sigh.

My heart raced, the memory of Ryker’s piercing eyes still etched vividly in my mind. Those eyes, like blue sapphire, held a depth that always made me frozen inside. They were intense, yet impenetrable, masking everything about him, but he had unraveled the layers of my soul with just one glance. It was as if he could see through the carefully constructed mask I wore, stripping away the armor I had built to protect myself from... him.

“Do you think he’s up to something?” she asked, ripping my thoughts away from him.

My mind was racing with possibilities. Ryker had always been relentless in his pursuit to make my life miserable.

“I don’t know, Em,” I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. “But I can’t shake off the feeling that something has changed. Something big. But what could have caused this sudden shift in his behavior?”

She gasped, turning to face me. “Is it possible that he has finally realized the consequences of his actions?”

I scoffed. “He had four long years to acknowledge all the pain he caused me, Em. That man never understands the concept of realization.”

“I suppose you’re right,” Em conceded, her voice tinged with sadness. “But part of me wants to believe that people can change, that they can learn from their mistakes.”

Part of me wanted to believe that maybe, just maybe, there was a chance for redemption. Maybe Ryker had finally realized the weight of his actions and the pain he had caused me. But deep down, I knew better. I knew that hoping for change from someone like him was hopeless.

I shrugged, unable to suppress a bitter chuckle. “Maybe in some parallel universe, they can,” I replied, my tone dripping with doubt. “But in our reality, he’s proven time and time again that he’s incapable of genuine remorse.” I felt like crying all of a sudden but I controlled myself. Not in front of Emily again.

Em’s gaze lingered on me for a moment before she nodded with sympathy in her eyes.

“I guess I just hoped for a different outcome this time,” she admitted softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “For your sake.”

The wounds he had inflicted ran deep, leaving scars that I thought no amount of time could erase. The pain was etched into my very being. That pain was a constant reminder of the heartache he had caused me.