(Ethan's POV)
Liam's wedding was a strange, bittersweet affair. It was a celebration of love, a reminder of what I'd lost, and a catalyst for a confrontation I wasn't sure I was ready for.
I'd spent months trying to rebuild myself, to confront my demons, to become the man Claire deserved. But the fear, the lingering doubt, it still gnawed at me.
The church was filled with familiar faces, the air buzzing with anticipation. I stood at the altar, my best man duties a hollow echo of the joy I couldn't quite feel.
Then she walked in.
Claire.
She looked different. Stronger. More vibrant. Her eyes, once filled with a vulnerable softness, now held a quiet strength, a raw, undeniable power.
My heart pounded in my chest, a frantic drumbeat against the silence. The world around me faded away, replaced by the sight of her, the sound of her footsteps, the scent of her skin.
She was breathtaking.
She took a seat near the back, her gaze fixed on the altar, her expression unreadable. I couldn't tear my eyes away from her, my mind racing with a desperate need to talk to her, to explain everything.
But the ceremony began, the vows echoing in the silence, a reminder of the promises I'd broken. I watched Liam and his bride exchange rings, their love a stark contrast to the emptiness within me.
The reception was a blur. The music, the laughter, the congratulations—it all sounded like a distant echo, a world I no longer belonged to.
I found myself drifting towards the back of the room, drawn to her like a moth to a flame. She stood by the window, her gaze fixed on the night sky, her expression pensive.
"Claire," I said, my voice barely audible, my heart pounding in my chest.
She turned, her eyes meeting mine, a flicker of surprise, a hint of something unreadable in their depths.
"Ethan," she said, her voice soft, her tone guarded.
The silence stretched between us, heavy with unspoken emotions, with the ghosts of the past.
"You look...good," I said, my voice rough, my eyes searching hers.
"So do you," she said, her voice barely audible, her gaze shifting away.
The tension was palpable, a raw, undeniable pull that threatened to consume us both. I needed to say something, to explain everything, to beg for her forgiveness. But the words caught in my throat, trapped by the fear, the regret, the raw, undeniable love.
(Claire's POV)
Liam's wedding was a surprise, a jolt back into a world I'd tried to leave behind. I'd received the invitation months ago, and almost didn't come. But a part of me, a stubborn, defiant part, needed to see him.
And then, I did.
Ethan.
He looked different. Haunted. There was a raw vulnerability in his eyes, a quiet desperation that tugged at my heart.
He was breathtaking.
I sat through the ceremony, my gaze fixed on the altar, my mind racing with conflicting emotions. The vows, the rings, the declarations of love—it was a painful reminder of what we'd lost.
The reception was a strange, bittersweet affair. The music, the laughter, the congratulations—it all sounded like a distant echo, a world I no longer belonged to.
I found myself drifting towards the back of the room, seeking solitude in the crowded space. The night sky, the vast expanse of stars, it offered a sense of peace, a respite from the turmoil within me.
"Claire," his voice echoed behind me, soft and hesitant.
I turned, my eyes meeting his. The vulnerability in his gaze, the raw, undeniable longing, it was almost unbearable.
"Ethan," I said, my voice soft, my tone guarded.
The silence stretched between us, heavy with unspoken emotions, with the ghosts of the past.
"You look...good," he said, his voice rough, his eyes searching mine.
"So do you," I said, my voice barely audible, my gaze shifting away.
The tension was palpable, a raw, undeniable pull that threatened to consume us both. I wanted to say something, to ask him everything, to know if he'd changed. But the words caught in my throat, trapped by the fear, the hurt, the lingering love.
We stood there, suspended in a fragile moment, the music and laughter of the reception fading into a distant hum. The night sky, the vast expanse of stars, it seemed to hold its breath, waiting for us to speak, to bridge the gap, to rewrite our story.