The city buzzed with life as Nathan moved through the crowded streets, his thoughts a jumble of emotions he couldn't quite untangle. The conversation with Lewis had left him unsettled, but he didn't want to let it define him. He needed to move forward, to put the past behind him. He couldn't dwell on what could have been, especially with everything that had happened between him and Sarah.
He had made peace with the idea that Sarah had chosen Lewis—that she had found something with him that he couldn't provide. Nathan had tried to suppress the gnawing ache in his chest, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't erase the feelings that still lingered for her.
But there was something else now—an overwhelming sense of unease. Something was different. Something wasn't right.
---
It was late one evening when Nathan decided to go for a walk to clear his mind. The night air was cool, the kind of crisp chill that made the city feel alive. He didn't expect to run into Sarah, but when he rounded the corner, there she was, standing outside a restaurant, talking to someone. As he drew closer, his steps slowed when he saw who she was with.
It was Lewis.
Nathan stopped in his tracks, his heart skipping a beat as he watched them. Sarah's face was lit up with a smile, one that he hadn't seen in a long time. Her eyes sparkled in a way that made her seem alive in a way he couldn't recall. She was laughing at something Lewis had said, and the sound of it twisted something inside Nathan's chest.
But it wasn't just the laughter—it was the way they stood together. Lewis's hand was on her back, just above her waist, a familiar gesture that used to belong to Nathan alone. Nathan felt a pang of jealousy, a feeling that cut deeper than he was willing to admit. He had told himself that he was done, that he could let her go, but seeing them together, seeing how comfortable they were with each other—it was more than he could handle.
He wanted to turn away, to leave and pretend he hadn't seen anything, but something inside him held him there, rooted to the spot. He watched as Lewis leaned in closer to Sarah, his hand slipping down to her hip. And then, in a move that made Nathan's blood run cold, Lewis kissed her.
Nathan's heart stopped.
It wasn't a quick kiss—no, it was slow, lingering, and full of intimacy. Sarah didn't pull away. In fact, she kissed him back, her hands moving to his chest as she deepened the kiss.
Nathan felt as though the ground had shifted beneath him, as though the world had tilted on its axis. He stood frozen, watching the two of them, the raw ache in his chest intensifying with every passing second.
How long had this been going on? How long had Sarah been hiding this from him?
The question burned through his mind like wildfire, and before he knew it, anger bubbled to the surface. Not anger at Sarah, but at himself—for not seeing it sooner, for letting her slip away without ever truly fighting for her.
It felt as though the walls had closed in around him, suffocating him with their reality. He couldn't look away, but he didn't want to watch it anymore. Turning on his heel, he stormed down the street, his mind racing.
---
Nathan's apartment was a blur as he pushed through the door, his breathing erratic. He had barely made it inside when his phone buzzed. He didn't need to check to know who it was. It was Sarah. She was reaching out, but what could she possibly say? After everything he had just seen, the words felt hollow before they even left her lips.
His finger hovered over the screen as he debated whether to answer. In the end, he threw his phone onto the couch and let out a frustrated sigh. He couldn't do this. He couldn't pretend that everything was fine anymore.
He paced the room, his thoughts a storm of anger and hurt. The pain of watching them together, of seeing Sarah in the arms of the man who had once been his closest friend, felt like a betrayal. Not just from her, but from everything—fate, circumstance, his own heart.
The feeling of inadequacy clawed at him. He wasn't enough for her. Not then, and certainly not now. His mind kept replaying the kiss, the way she had responded to him, and a gnawing sense of jealousy washed over him. How could she do this? How could she move on so easily while he was still stuck in the past?
---
The next day, Sarah showed up at his apartment unannounced, knocking lightly on the door. Nathan didn't know whether to open it or not. Part of him wanted to face her, to get answers, to let her explain. But another part of him, the wounded part, wanted to run far away from this pain.
With a deep breath, he opened the door.
"Hi," Sarah said softly, her eyes wary as if she could sense the tension between them.
Nathan didn't return her greeting, his gaze cold. "What do you want, Sarah?"
She flinched at his tone but pressed on, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. "I know you saw us," she began, her voice barely above a whisper. "And I'm sorry. I didn't want you to find out this way."
Nathan's chest tightened. "You didn't want me to find out? So, what? You were going to keep it from me forever?"
Sarah's face fell, and she bit her lip, clearly struggling with her own emotions. "I didn't know how to tell you, Nathan. I didn't know how to explain it. I—" She stopped, her voice faltering as she looked away. "I never wanted to hurt you."
Nathan's eyes narrowed. "Then why didn't you tell me the truth? Why did you keep hiding it?"
"Because I didn't want to hurt you, but I also didn't want to keep pretending like everything was okay," Sarah replied, her voice tinged with guilt. "I care about you, Nathan. I always have. But I also care about Lewis. And I didn't know how to choose between you both."
Nathan's fists clenched. "So, you've been with him all this time, and you didn't think I deserved to know?"
Sarah stepped closer, her voice soft but pleading. "Please, Nathan. It's not what you think. I didn't want to hurt you. I never wanted to lose you, but I needed to move on. We both did."
The words cut deep, and Nathan's heart felt as though it might shatter right then and there. He took a step back, shaking his head in disbelief. "I need time, Sarah. I need time to figure out if I can even look at you the same way after everything I saw."
"I understand," she whispered, her eyes welling with unshed tears. "But I hope you know, Nathan, that I never stopped caring about you."
Nathan closed his eyes, fighting the tears threatening to escape. "I don't know if I can be your friend anymore," he said quietly.
And with that, Sarah turned and walked out, leaving Nathan alone in the silence that had settled between them.
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