The café where she was meeting Luca was small, intimate. It had been their spot for years. The place they had always gone to, no matter how their relationship had been—whether they were celebrating something new or recovering from an argument. It was the place where their love had first blossomed, and now, it was where they would say goodbye.
When Mia entered, she spotted him immediately. His back was to her, but there was no
mistaking the familiar way he sat, the same posture he had always had. There was an ease to him, a quiet confidence that she had always admired. But as she approached, the energy shifted. Luca turned when he heard her footsteps, and the moment their eyes met, Mia saw the vulnerability that had never fully disappeared from his gaze. He was waiting for her, but there was no relief in his eyes—only a weary acceptance, as though he had been waiting for this day, even if he hadn't wanted to acknowledge it.
"Mia," Luca said, his voice quiet but laden with emotion. "I wasn't sure if you'd come."
Mia felt her heart ache at the sight of him, at the quiet sadness in his eyes. She had once been able to read him so easily, and now, she could see the same pain reflected back at her. But there was no turning back. Not anymore.
"I had to," Mia replied, her voice firm but gentle. She moved to the table, taking a seat
opposite him, her hands folding in her lap as if to keep herself grounded. "I need to be honest with you, Luca."
Luca didn't speak at first. His jaw tightened, and his eyes narrowed, but he didn't interrupt her. He simply nodded, his posture stiffening slightly as though bracing for what she was about to say. Mia could see the weight in his expression, the knowledge that something was ending, that their story was coming to a close. They sat in silence for a long moment, the kind of silence that spoke volumes, that held years of unspoken words between them. Finally, Mia took a deep breath and began.
"I care about you, Luca," she said, her voice steady despite the tremble she felt inside. "I
always will. But I can't keep living in the past. I've spent so many years thinking about what we had, and it was beautiful. But it's not my present anymore. It's not my future."
Her words hung in the air, heavy and final. She didn't want to hurt him, but she knew that this moment was necessary. It was the only way she could truly move on.
Luca's face tightened, the muscles in his jaw visibly tensing. His lips pressed into a thin line, and Mia saw the flicker of the old pain, the same kind of pain she had carried for so long. For a brief second, it felt like they were back in time, back when they had shared the same hopes and dreams. But the moment passed quickly, replaced by something else—a quiet understanding, an acceptance that the past was no longer their reality.
"I never wanted to be the one to hold you back, Mia," Luca said, his voice low. "I came back because… because I still care about you. But I see it now. You've moved on. You've built a life. You deserve someone who can be there for you, who can give you the things I couldn't."
Mia felt a lump rise in her throat at his words. It was so hard to see him like this, to realize that he was letting go, too. But deep down, she knew it was the right thing to do. They couldn't keep clinging to something that was already broken.
"I'll always care about you, Luca," Mia said softly, her voice full of the sincerity she had spent so many years trying to ignore. She reached out, her hand resting lightly on his, and for a moment, the connection between them felt as strong as ever. "You'll always have a special place in my heart, Luca. But I can't go back. And I don't want to."
Luca's lips curved into a sad smile, a smile that spoke of memories, of a time when things had been simpler. He nodded, and Mia could see the bittersweet understanding in his eyes.
"I understand, Mia. I always will," he said, his voice thick with emotion.
And just like that, the finality of it all settled in. They had both known this day would come, even if they hadn't wanted to face it. The love they had shared, the time they had spent together, had been beautiful, but it was no longer enough to hold them together. They had both changed, and now, it was time to let go.