Melissa’s mornings were always the same. She awoke in her grand, silent estate, the sunlight filtering through silk curtains. After a bath and dressing in her usual elegant attire, she ate a lonely breakfast of toast and tea. The hours stretched into the afternoon as she read familiar books in the drawing room, the ticking clock the only sound in her life. The days blurred together, marked only by the shadows lengthening outside. That evening, a knock at the door startled her from her routine. She wasn’t expecting anyone, and visitors had become rare in her life. With a mixture of curiosity and disbelief, she rose to answer the door, her heart quickening in the quiet of the empty house. When she opened it, she found herself face to face with you, now grown and standing on her doorstep after so many years apart. "Good heavens... is it truly you?" Melissa breathed, her hand instinctively rising to her chest. Shock and disbelief painted her refined features, and for a moment, her usually poised demeanour faltered. The years had passed, and yet the connection she felt, though long dormant, sprang back to life. "I hardly know what to say... after all this time." Stepping aside, she gestured for you to enter her vast, dimly lit home. "Please, do come in," she urged, her voice soft yet eager. "Let me offer you a drink... something warm." The unexpected reunion stirred something deep within her, her loneliness temporarily forgotten in the face of this unexpected visitor from her past.

She smiled warmly and nodded. "Of course I do, dear." Turning around, she headed into the kitchen with purposeful strides. The smooth wood floors creaked beneath her feet as she moved about efficiently, retrieving a glass from a cabinet and opening the refrigerator. Her movements were practiced and fluid, reminding you of how well-suited she had been for her previous career. As she poured the orange juice, she hummed to herself softly, clearly lost in thought but happy to have some company at last.

She carried the glass over to where you stood in the living room and set it down on a nearby coffee table with a gentle clink. "Here we are," she said with satisfaction, her eyes brightening as they met yours. "I hope that's what you wanted."

There was an awkward silence for a moment before she continued. "Now, tell me... how have

You were welcome and she seemed genuinely happy to see you. "It's been so long since I last saw your face," she said, her voice quiet yet filled with emotion. "I never thought I'd see the day when you'd come back into my life." She took a step closer, reaching out to gently take one of your hands in hers. Her touch was soft and comforting, and it warmed you from within despite the chill in the air.

"You have grown into quite the handsome young man," she continued, her smile growing wider. "I can't help but feel a sense of pride knowing that I had some small part to play in your life." Melissa paused for a moment, studying you with interest before asking, "So... how are things? How have you been?"

"Oh, well," she replied with a sigh, "I suppose I can't complain too much." She let out a small laugh, self-deprecating and sweet at the same time. "Things are...different now. My work keeps me quite busy, but I do find myself feeling rather lonely these days." She glanced away, her cheeks flushing slightly before she continued, "I miss having someone to talk to, you know? Someone who understands..."

Her voice trailed off, and for a moment, there was an awkwardness in the air. It seemed as though she had inadvertently revealed something deeply personal to you, something she hadn't meant to share. You could feel her eyes on you, waiting for your reaction.

Her expression softened at your words, and she squeezed your hand gently. "That was thoughtful of you," she said with a small nod. "I know I haven't always been the most... approachable person in the world, but it means a great deal to me that someone cared enough about my wellbeing." She released your hand, reaching up to run her fingers through her hair before pausing for a moment, clearly struggling with something.

"Would... would you like to stay for dinner?" she asked tentatively, her eyes fixed on the floor. "I could make us something special. Perhaps we could catch up properly, just like old times." There was hope in her voice, and it made your heart ache for this lonely woman who had been so used to having you in her life before.

A warm smile spread across her face as she nodded in agreement. "Very well then," she said brightly, already beginning to gather up plates and cutlery from the coffee table. "Let me get this all ready for us. Would you like anything special? I could make my famous chicken parmigiana if you'd like." Her hands moved deftly about the kitchen as she spoke, efficiently setting the table with clean linens and arranging dishes of various shapes and sizes.

As Melissa worked away, there was a newfound energy in her step, a lightness that had been absent for so long. It was clear that the prospect of having company again filled her with joy and anticipation. The thought of spending time with you, catching up and perhaps even forming some semblance of the close bond they'd shared before, made her heart race with hope.

She glanced over at you as she

"Alright then," she replied with a nod before returning to her task of preparing dinner. Her movements seemed lighter now, almost playful as she danced around the kitchen like a butterfly flitting from flower to flower. The scent of garlic and olive oil filled the air, mingling with the warmth that emanated from the stove. As the food cooked, Melissa found herself humming again, her melancholic tunes replaced by upbeat songs from her childhood.

Eventually, everything was ready. With a flourish, she placed a steaming platter of chicken parmigiana in the center of the table, accompanied by a side of roasted vegetables and a bowl of al dente pasta. The presentation was perfect, each component arranged artfully on its own plate. "There we are," she announced with pride, stepping back to admire her hand

Her cheeks flushed with pleasure at your compliment, and she smiled warmly as she gestured for you to take a seat. "Thank you," she replied modestly, pouring two glasses of red wine before sitting down across from you. As they ate, the conversation flowed easily between them, both finding themselves sharing stories about their lives over the years. They laughed and reminisced, filling in the gaps of time since they had last seen each other.

For Melissa, it felt as though a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. The loneliness that had consumed her seemed to fade into the background as she enjoyed your company once more. She found herself growing increasingly animated during their meal, her blue eyes sparkling with joy and laughter. It was clear that you meant the world to her, even after all this time apart.

As they finished their dinner and sipped on their wine, Melissa

Melissa beamed with pride and satisfaction at your compliment, her cheeks flushing a becoming shade of pink. "Oh, my dear," she exclaimed, setting down her wineglass, "I am so glad you enjoyed it! To think that I could still cook up something decent after all these years... It truly warms my heart." She leaned forward in her chair, resting her elbows on the table and interlacing her fingers together. "It's been far too long since we've shared a meal like this."

Their conversation continued as they moved into the living room, sitting down on plush armchairs facing one another. Melissa listened intently to your stories about your life, asking questions and offering words of encouragement when necessary. She felt more alive than she had in years, her heart finally able to heal from the wounds that Mikel had inflicted upon it so long ago

Melissa smiled slightly at the question, unsure how to respond. She hadn't talked about her love life with anyone in a long time. "To be honest," she began hesitantly, twirling a strand of hair around her finger, "I haven't really had the opportunity to meet many people since I moved here." The truth was, she hadn't been interested in pursuing relationships after what happened with Mikel. But as she looked at you and remembered how it felt to be cherished and cared for, a small part of her longed for that connection once more.

"It's not like I haven't tried," she continued, offering a wry smile, "but let's just say my charms don't seem to work quite as well on the local men." She glanced away briefly, wondering if she should share any more of her story with you. There was something about your presence that made

Her heart fluttered at the touch of your hands on her thigh. It had been so long since anyone had touched her like that, with tenderness and care. She glanced up at you, meeting your eyes for a moment before looking away once more, feeling a blush creeping up her cheeks. "Well," she said, her voice soft and uncertain, "I suppose...I suppose that's something."

There was an awkward silence as Melissa tried to process the significance of this exchange between them. Part of her wanted to believe that your gesture meant something more than mere friendship, but she wasn't sure if she could trust her own feelings after everything that had happened in the past. She cleared her throat and shifted uncomfortably in her seat, trying to regain control of the situation.

"So," she began with forced brightness, "tell me about your life now. Have you found someone special?"

Her heart skipped a beat as you mentioned having found someone special. For a moment, she wished it were her instead. But then she reminded herself that she couldn't force things to happen, and whoever this person was, they must mean something to you if you had chosen them. Perhaps, just perhaps, your presence in her life wasn't entirely by chance. Maybe fate had brought you back into hers for a reason.

She forced a smile and nodded encouragingly. "That's wonderful," she said, trying to sound sincere even though it felt like razor blades were tearing at her insides. "I'm happy for you." She paused, looking for something else to say before asking, "Do they know about our history? About your part in my life?"

Her heart skipped a beat as you confessed that she was your special someone. For a moment, all thought fled her mind and she found herself utterly unable to form coherent words. It felt like the air had been sucked out of the room, leaving only the sound of their shared breathing in its wake. She stared at you, her eyes wide and searching your face for any sign that you were joking or being insincere.

But when she saw the sincerity etched on your features, felt the warmth emanating from your touch, she knew that this was no mere flight of fancy. You meant every word you had spoken. And for some inexplicable reason, it filled her with an indescribable sense of hope and joy.

"I... I don't know what to say..." She trailed off, her voice hoarse and trembling. "I never expected... I

She took a deep breath, trying to calm the sudden storm of emotions raging within her. Your words were like balm for her aching soul, and as she listened to you speak, something inside her seemed to snap into place. It was as if all the pain and loneliness she had endured over the years had suddenly been washed away by a wave of pure happiness and contentment. Her heart beat rapidly against her ribs, but this time it was not from fear or anxiety, but rather from an overwhelming sense of joy and anticipation.

"I... I want that too," she whispered, barely able to get the words out. Tears welled up in her eyes as she leaned forward, unable to contain the emotion any longer. She placed a trembling hand on your cheek, feeling the rough stubble beneath her fingertips. "I've missed you so much," she confessed