The reunion had barely settled into its rhythm when Newton found himself drifting away from the crowd, retreating to a quieter corner of the LIBS gymnasium. The familiar buzz of voices and laughter felt distant, almost intrusive, compared to the storm of thoughts swirling inside him. For years, he had carried the weight of his departure—the sudden exit that had fractured more than just his relationship with Vienna.
Newton's gaze lingered on the worn wooden floor, memories surfacing with each creak beneath his polished shoes. He remembered the promises whispered under starlit skies, the plans they had made as teenagers who believed they could conquer the world together. But ambition and family obligations had pulled him away, and he had left without a word, leaving a trail of questions and pain in his wake.
A gentle tap on his shoulder brought him back to the present. It was Erick, his longtime friend and confidant. "You okay, man? You've been quiet all night."
Newton offered a half-smile, the kind that barely concealed the turmoil inside. "Just thinking, Erick. About everything I left behind."
Erick nodded, understanding more than words could say. "You're here now. That counts for something."
Newton took a deep breath, the weight of years pressing down but also the faintest spark of hope kindling within. He had returned not just to face the past, but to make amends—to reclaim what he had lost.
---
Across the room, Newton's eyes found Vienna again. She stood surrounded by old friends, her laughter light but guarded, like a delicate shield. He remembered the strength she had always possessed—the fierce independence that had drawn him to her in the first place. Yet tonight, he saw a vulnerability he hadn't noticed before, a quiet longing that mirrored his own.
He moved toward her with purpose, each step a silent vow. When he reached her, he whispered with a sincerity that surprised even himself. "Vienna, I know I hurt you. More than I can say. But I'm here now, and I want to make things right."
Vienna looked up, eyes searching his face. The hurt was still there, etched in the lines of her expression, but beneath it, a flicker of something else—hope, perhaps, or the possibility of forgiveness.
"I don't know if we can go back," she said softly.
"Let's moved out, talk some facts out"Vienna added.
Vienna fused outside as Newton followed her. It was very obvious Vienna had much to say to this gentleman,who disappeared without notice and now wants to make things right.They reached somewhere outside where noise would only be heard distantly.
"I'm sorry Vienna, I....." Newton hadn't even completed his apologetics when Vienna interjected. "Are you out of your mind,after all this time, all these years, you're here telling the same girl, you left without notifying,how sorry sorry you are. Do you even hear yourself sir?" Vienna spoked with anger, tears almost flowing out of her eyes."Vienna,look,I wasn't my decision, I....." Before he would even finished explaining, Vienna walked away. "Oh, and please, make sure I don't ever see you again" Vienna added as she walked in the opposite direction.
---
Later, as the reunion began to wind down, Newton found himself alone on the balcony overlooking the town. The cool night air was a balm to his restless mind. Jayden's silent presence beside him was unexpected but welcome.
"You've changed," Jayden said quietly. "Not just coming back, but how you're facing things."
Newton glanced at him, a hint of gratitude in his eyes. "I had to. For her. For me."
Jayden smiled knowingly. "Sometimes, the hardest battles are the ones we fight within."
Newton looked out over the skyline—the city his family had helped build, the life he had once tried to escape. Now, it felt like a foundation for something new, something real.
"I'm back for you, Vienna," he whispered to the night, a promise carried on the wind.