It Ends With Us

The clink of keys echoed in the quiet of the café as Lily unlocked the door. The evening air was colder than she expected, making her shiver as she stepped inside.She hesitated for a moment, staring at the space she’d poured her heart into. The soft hum of the espresso machine and the faint smell of leftover coffee beans felt like a strange comfort.It had been a long day, one that felt like it dragged on forever. Atlas had shown up, and Ryle had acted... strange. She didn’t know what to make of it all, but her thoughts kept circling back to that moment when she saw Atlas walk through the door. It felt like her whole world had shifted with just one glance.But the last thing she needed was to be tangled in the mess of her past. Not now. Not after everything she had worked for."Closing up early tonight?" Ally’s voice broke through the silence as she walked into the backroom, wiping her hands on a rag.Lily gave a small nod. "Yeah, just needed to get out of there."Ally raised an eyeb

Ryle had been trying to talk to her, to explain things, but each time she saw him, her mind would wander back to Atlas.And Atlas, he wasn’t making it easy either. He hadn’t come back into her life just to disappear again. No, he’d made it clear he wanted something. But what was she supposed to do with that?The door to the café opened, and a rush of wind swept through, making Lily look up. It was Ryle.He looked tired, but there was something about the way he carried himself that made him appear grounded, like he could take on the world and still come out unscathed.But in front of Lily, the world seemed to be catching up with him, and she could see the subtle signs of worry on his face.He walked over to her table, his usual calm manner replaced with an unease she hadn’t seen before. “Mind if I sit?”“Of course,” Lily said, gesturing to the empty chair across from her. She tried to give him a smile, but it felt forced. “You okay?”“I’ve been better,” Ryle admitted, sitting down. He

The air was thick with tension as Lily stood at the entrance of the café, her fingers wrapped tightly around the strap of her purse. She had texted Atlas earlier, agreeing to meet him today, but now, standing here, all the emotions she had been trying to suppress for days came rushing forward.She wasn’t sure what she was doing, why she had agreed to this meeting. Maybe she was trying to convince herself that she wasn’t running from her problems anymore. Maybe she was just trying to find some clarity.The bell above the door chimed as she walked in, and she immediately spotted him at a table in the corner. Atlas sat with his back straight, his posture confident, but his eyes, those eyes, betrayed a certain restlessness. He was waiting. Waiting for her to make her decision.She swallowed hard and made her way to the table, trying to ignore the way her heart thudded in her chest. As she sat down, Atlas gave her a small smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. He was still uncertain. And why

Lily stood at the window, watching the rain lash against the glass. The sky was heavy with dark clouds, a mix of thunder and the occasional flash of lightning illuminating the world outside. She wasn’t sure why she was still standing there, staring into the chaos. Maybe she was trying to make sense of her own life, trying to figure out what direction to go next.She had barely slept since that conversation at the café with Ryle. Since the conversation with Atlas in the park. Both of them wanted her. Both of them needed her.But it felt like she was the one who was slowly sinking, caught between two worlds that didn’t seem to have room for each other.Lily’s phone buzzed on the counter, dragging her out of her thoughts. She walked over and picked it up. It was a text from Ryle: "Can we talk tonight? I need to tell you something important."Her heart skipped a beat. What was so important? Was it another plea to be with him? She couldn’t take much more of this back-and-forth. The weight

Lily blinked. "What?"He smiled. "There’s a bookstore opening downtown. I was going to check it out. No pressure, no expectations. Just books, coffee, and an excuse to escape for a little while."She hesitated. It felt like a step toward something, even if it was small.Atlas must have sensed her doubt because he leaned in slightly, his voice softer. "You don’t have to say yes. But I think you’d like it."Lily exhaled, then nodded. "Okay. I’ll go."A slow smile spread across his face, the kind that made her feel steady even when she wasn’t sure where she was going.For the first time in a long time, she wasn’t overthinking.She was just letting herself move forward.Lily adjusted the strap of her purse as she stepped onto the sidewalk, the cool evening air brushing against her skin. The city lights flickered above her, casting a warm glow over the streets. She had almost talked herself out of coming, but something about the way Atlas had asked her without pressure, without expectation