Cameron arrived at the cafe ten minutes early. She hadn't meant to, but muscle memory had carried her here faster than expected, her body moving on instinct. She barely glanced at the menu before ordering the same drink she always had, the same drink she'd ordered the last time she had sat at this exact table, thinking it was a date.
Back then, everything about Jasmine had been overwhelming—her presence, her beauty, the way her voice lilted in a way that made Cameron's stomach turn over. She had been desperate for Jasmine's attention, drowning in the intoxicating thrill of her presence, like every moment was teetering on the edge of something that could break her.
Now, as Jasmine stepped through the door, Cameron felt something different. The attraction was still there, that much was undeniable, but the excitement had settled into something quieter, something softer. She no longer felt like she was holding her breath, waiting for the moment Jasmine would consume her. Instead, she could look at her and simply take her in.
Jasmine looked almost the same, but also different in ways Cameron couldn't quite put her finger on. Her hair was longer, falling past her shoulders in waves, and her posture seemed more composed, lacking the edge of restlessness she used to carry. When their eyes met, Jasmine's lips parted slightly, a breath hitching, but she quickly masked it with a small, careful smile.
"Hey," Jasmine said, sliding into the seat across from her.
"Hey," Cameron echoed, watching her carefully.
There was a pause, both of them looking down at the drinks in front of them as if they could find the right words there. The air between them was thick, but not suffocating.
Jasmine was the first to speak. "I've been in therapy."
Cameron's lips quirked slightly. "Yeah, I figured. You seem... different."
Jasmine exhaled, almost laughing. "I feel different. I mean, I still have a lot to work through, but I've realized a lot of things. About myself. About us."
Cameron nodded slowly, letting her continue.
Jasmine traced the rim of her cup with her finger before looking up. "I manipulated you. I convinced myself that what I was doing was love, but it wasn't. I was selfish, and I didn't respect your boundaries. I wanted to control everything because I was afraid of losing you."
Cameron's throat tightened, but she forced herself to stay present. She had spent so long hoping to hear these words, and now that they were finally being said, she didn't know what to do with them.
Jasmine hesitated before adding, "I think I confused love with possession. And I don't want to do that anymore."
Cameron sat with that for a moment. "I loved you, you know," she said finally. "I always had, even when I was confused."
Jasmine's eyes softened. "I know. And I think, in my own way, I loved you too. But I don't think I knew how to love properly."
Cameron swallowed. "I didn't either. I was just as wrapped up in the toxicity as you were. I wanted to blame you for everything, but the truth is, I was just as lost."
Jasmine nodded. "So what do we do now?"
Cameron exhaled slowly, gripping the edge of the table. "I don't know. But I think we should take our time. If we're going to be in each other's lives again, I want it to be different."
Jasmine offered a small smile. "Baby steps?"
Cameron nodded. "Yeah. Baby steps."
For the first time in a long time, they sat in a comfortable silence, not trying to fill the gaps with desperate words or hidden motives. Just existing in each other's presence, relearning each other without the weight of what once was hanging too heavily between them.