Next morning, Mia decided to revisit the park where she'd played the violin. The laughter of children and the rustling of leaves felt like a balm for her troubled heart. This time, she brought a sketchpad, hoping to capture the serenity of the place in her drawings.
As she shaded the outlines of a large oak tree, a shadow fell over her page. Looking up, she froze.
"Hello, Mia."
David stood before her, his expression a mix of nervousness and determination.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice wary.
"I needed to see you," he said, taking a cautious step closer. "I wanted to talk in person."
Mia's grip tightened on her pencil. "I thought I made it clear last night."
"I know," he said quickly, raising his hands in a gesture of surrender. "But I couldn't just leave it like that. Please, just give me five minutes."
She hesitated, then gestured for him to sit on the bench beside her. He obliged, keeping a respectful distance.
"I was selfish, Mia," he began. "I took you for granted, and I've regretted it every day since. I know I don't deserve your forgiveness, but I need you to know that I'm sorry."
Mia studied him, searching for any sign of insincerity. His eyes held a depth of regret she hadn't expected.
"I don't know if I can forgive you," she admitted. "You hurt me, David. You broke my trust."
"I know," he said softly. "But if there's even the smallest chance, I'll do whatever it takes to make things right."
Before she could respond, the sound of violin music drifted through the park. It was faint but unmistakable. Mia turned, her heart skipping a beat.
There, under the same oak tree she'd played beneath the day before, stood Lukas. His posture was relaxed, his bow gliding effortlessly across the strings. The melody was hauntingly beautiful, filled with an emotion that seemed to resonate deep within her.
David followed her gaze, his expression darkening. "Is he...?"
"He's my friend," Mia said firmly, cutting him off.
David's jaw tightened, but he said nothing. Lukas's music came to an end, and he approached with a warm smile.
"Hey," he said, his eyes flicking briefly to David before settling on Mia. "Thought I'd find you here."
"I wasn't expecting company," Mia said, her tone lighter now.
Lukas nodded toward David. "Everything okay?"
David stood, his demeanor tense. "I should go."
"David—" Mia began, but he shook his head.
"Take care, Mia," he said, his voice low. Then he walked away, leaving her and Lukas alone.
---
"Old friend?" Lukas asked casually, though there was a hint of concern in his tone.
"Old mistake," Mia replied with a sigh.
Lukas sat beside her, setting his violin down carefully. "Want to talk about it?"
She shook her head. "Not now. I just... I'm glad you were here."
"I'll always be here," Lukas said softly.
Mia turned to him, her brow furrowing. "Why? Why do you care so much?"
Lukas hesitated, the weight of his dream from the previous night pressing on his chest. "Because you matter to me, Mia. More than you realize."
She blinked, caught off guard by the intensity of his words. "Lukas, I—"
"Don't overthink it," he interrupted with a small smile. "Just know that you're not alone, okay?"
Mia nodded, her heart heavy with unspoken questions. As they sat together under the sprawling branches of the oak tree, she couldn't shake the feeling that Lukas knew more about her than he let on.
And she wasn't sure if she was ready to find out what.