As the days passed, Maya found herself drifting more and more into thoughts of Jason. It was something she hadn’t expected, especially after making such a firm decision to stay with Alex. But the conversation she had with Jason lingered in her mind like an echo she couldn’t silence.
Maya had always been a daydreamer, but now her thoughts frequently wandered back to the days when she and Jason were together. They had met during a tech conference in San Francisco, both of them ambitious and eager to make their mark in their respective fields. Jason, with his easy charm and quick wit, had caught her attention almost immediately. He was the kind of person who could make anyone feel like they were the only one in the room, and Maya had quickly fallen for him.
Their relationship had been passionate and full of shared dreams. They would spend hours discussing their future, the businesses they wanted to build, the places they wanted to travel. Jason was always supportive of Maya’s ambitions, encouraging her to take risks and follow her instincts. He had a way of making her feel invincible, like they could conquer the world together.
Maya often found herself lost in memories of those times. She’d remember the way Jason would surprise her with small gestures—a coffee delivered to her office on a stressful day, a handwritten note slipped into her laptop bag, a spontaneous weekend getaway. They had been a team, and for a long time, she had believed they were meant to be.
Now, sitting in her apartment with Alex, she found herself comparing the present to the past. Alex was wonderful, but their relationship lacked the fiery intensity she had shared with Jason. There was love, yes, but it was different. More steady, more grounded. Maya knew this should be enough, but a part of her still longed for the excitement she had once felt.
Her friends noticed the change in her. One evening, while having dinner with Sarah, her closest friend, Maya’s mind began to wander once again.
"Maya? Are you even listening to me?" Sarah asked, waving a hand in front of Maya’s face.
Maya blinked, pulling herself out of her reverie. "Sorry, Sarah. I’m just… distracted."
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Sarah gave her a knowing look. "You’ve been distracted a lot lately. What’s going on?"
Maya hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. But Sarah had been her confidante for years, and Maya knew she could trust her. She sighed, running a hand through her hair.
"It’s Jason," Maya admitted softly. "I can’t stop thinking about him. After we talked, it brought up all these old feelings I thought I’d buried. And now I’m confused. I love Alex, but I can’t seem to shake this… this longing for what Jason and I had."
Sarah frowned, concern etched on her face. "Maya, that’s natural, but you need to be careful. You made a choice to be with Alex, and you can’t keep looking back. Jason is in the past for a reason."
"I know," Maya said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But sometimes, I wonder if I made the right choice. What if Jason was the one, and I let him go too soon?"
Sarah reached across the table and took Maya’s hand. "You can’t live in the ‘what ifs,’ Maya. If you keep dwelling on the past, you’ll never be happy with the present. You need to figure out what you really want, before it’s too late."
Maya nodded, but the doubts remained. She appreciated Sarah’s advice, but it wasn’t easy to let go of something that had meant so much to her.
At work, Maya struggled to focus. Her performance began to slip, and Leah, her project manager, quickly noticed.
"Maya, can I talk to you for a minute?" Leah asked one afternoon, her tone serious.
Maya followed Leah into her office, her stomach twisting with anxiety. Leah gestured for her to sit down, her expression one of concern.
"You’ve seemed a little off lately," Leah began, choosing her words carefully. "I’m worried about you. Is everything okay?"
Maya knew she couldn’t tell Leah the whole truth. Admitting that she was distracted by feelings for her ex would only complicate things, both professionally and personally. Instead, she opted for a partial truth, one that would explain her behavior without revealing too much.
"I’ve been dealing with some mental health issues," Maya said, forcing herself to meet Leah’s gaze. "It’s been affecting my focus, but I’m working on it. I just need some time to get things back on track."
Leah’s expression softened, sympathy replacing her initial concern. "I’m sorry to hear that, Maya. Take whatever time you need. If there’s anything I can do to help, just let me know. Your health is more important than any project."
Maya nodded, grateful for Leah’s understanding, but also feeling a pang of guilt for not being completely honest. She knew she had to find a way to resolve the conflict in her heart before it started to affect her work even more.
That night, as she lay in bed next to Alex, Maya stared at the ceiling, her mind once again drifting to memories of Jason. She remembered the way he used to hold her, the way he would look at her as if she were the only person in the world. It was a love that had burned brightly, and though it had eventually flickered out, the embers were still there, glowing faintly in the corners of her heart.
Maya closed her eyes, willing herself to let go of the past. But as she drifted off to sleep, she couldn’t help but wonder if those embers might one day spark back into flame.
To be continued....