All Chapters of We Were Almost : Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

The plane descended through the clouds.Maya pressed her face to the window. Watched the city emerge below her. Buildings. Streets. Cars. People. All of it spread out like a map of her future.His city.Her city now.Her heart pounded so hard she was sure the person next to her could hear it. The woman in the aisle seat was reading a magazine, oblivious. Normal people doing normal things. Meanwhile, Maya's entire life was about to change.The landing was smooth. She barely noticed.She was too busy thinking about him. Waiting at the airport. Right there. Not three miles away. Not hours away. Right there.The plane taxied. Stopped. The seatbelt sign clicked off.People stood. Grabbed bags. Pushed toward the exit. The usual chaos of arrival.Maya sat still for a moment. Took a breath. Let it out slow.This was it.She stood. Reached for her carry-on. Her hands were shaking.The walk through the terminal felt like walking through a dream. Everything slightly blurry. Slightly unreal.Past

Three weeks passed.Three weeks of bliss. Three weeks of learning about each other. Three weeks of thinking they had finally figured it all out.Then the first fight happened.It started small. Stupid. Dishes.She came home tired. Long day at work. He had left his coffee cup in the sink. Again."Ethan. The cup.""What about it?""It's in the sink.""I'll do it later.""You always say later. Later never comes."He looked at her. Confused."It's a cup. I'll do it in five minutes.""It's not just the cup. It's everything. I come home tired and you're just…sitting there.""I worked too. I just got home earlier.""Then why is nothing done?""Nothing needed to be done.""The cup needed to be done."They stared at each other."I don't understand," he said. "We're fighting about a cup?""We're fighting about respect. About partnership. About…" She stopped. Didn't know how to say it."About what?""About feeling like I'm the only one who notices things."He was quiet.Then: "That's not fair."

Two weeks later, Maya's mother arrived.Maya was nervous all morning. Cleaning. Rearranging. Checking the clock every five minutes. She changed the bedsheets twice. Fluffed the pillows three times. Made sure there were fresh flowers on the table.Ethan watched from the couch, amused."She's going to love it.""What if she doesn't?""She's your mother. She loves you. She'll love anything that makes you happy.""That's not how mothers work. Mothers notice everything. The dust in the corner. The dishes in the sink. The…""Maya." He stood up. Took her hands. "Breathe. It's going to be fine."She took a breath. Let it out slowly."Okay.""Good. Now let's go get your mom."They picked her up at the airport.Maya stood at arrivals, heart pounding. Ethan beside her, holding her hand.Then Maya's mom walked out.Smaller than Maya remembered. Older. A little more gray in her hair. But her eyes were the same. Warm. Knowing. Full of love.Maya ran to her."Mom.""Aya."They hugged for a long time

Maya was at work when her phone buzzed.Bisi's name on the screen. Video call. She stepped outside to answer."Bisi?"Bisi's face appeared. Tears streaming. Ring on her finger."Maya. He did it."Maya screamed.Right there in the hallway. People looked. She didn't care."WHAT? WHEN? HOW? TELL ME EVERYTHING."Bisi laughed. Cried. Both. She held her hand up to the camera. The ring sparkled. Simple. Solitaire. Perfect."Last night. He took me back to the cabin. The one where we went that first weekend.""The cabin?""He had it all planned. Candles. Flowers. Music. The whole thing."Maya pressed a hand to her chest."I can't breathe. I'm so happy I can't breathe."Bisi told the whole story through tears and laughter.The drive there. Dayo's sweaty palms. The way he kept checking his pocket."I knew something was up. He was acting so strange.""And?""And we got there. The cabin looked different. There were flowers everywhere. Candles lit. Music playing."Maya's eyes widened."He planned a

Maya's phone buzzed at 7am.Bisi's name. Video call.Maya groaned. Rolled over. Ethan mumbled something and pulled the pillow over his head.She answered."Bisi. It's 7am.""I know. But I have news."Maya sat up. Rubbed her eyes. "What kind of news?""We found a venue."Maya blinked. "A venue?""For the wedding. We found a place. It's perfect. You have to see it."Maya smiled despite the early hour."Okay. Show me."Bisi held up her phone. Panning around.A garden. Flowers everywhere. A small pavilion. String lights hanging from the trees. A pond in the distance."It's outdoors," Bisi said. "In the evening. With lights. Can you imagine?"Maya could imagine. It was beautiful. Romantic. Perfect for Bisi."It's perfect, Bisi.""I know, right? Dayo found it. He was looking for weeks. He visited like ten different places.""That man loves you.""I know. I'm lucky.""More like he's lucky."Bisi grinned. "Both. We're both lucky."They talked for an hour.Colors. Flowers. Guest lists. Food. M