C5 The things that stayed

The next few days passed normally for Sierra.

Work had been keeping her busy enough that she barely had time to think about anything else.

She arrived early that morning, settled at her desk, and immediately started working through the tasks waiting for her. Emails, reports, meetings, phone calls—it was the kind of day that seemed to move faster the busier she became.

By lunchtime, she was already tired.

She took a short break, grabbed something to eat, then returned to her desk.

Emily stopped by later in the afternoon.

"Still alive?"

Sierra looked up from her computer.

"Barely."

Emily laughed. "You need a break."

"I'll take one when I'm done."

"You said that three hours ago."

Sierra smiled.

"I'll be fine."

And she was.

Eventually, she finished everything she needed to do.

By the time she shut down her computer, the office had begun to empty.

Sierra gathered her things and headed outside.

She had planned to go straight home, but as she passed the hospital across the street, she noticed the small café stand nearby.

She stopped.

Coffee sounded good.

She joined the short line and waited, scrolling through her phone.

When she finally received her drink, she turned around.

And froze.

Alex was walking out of the hospital.

For a moment, she simply watched him.

He was dressed casually, his expression distant as he walked down the steps.

Sierra wasn't sure whether to call him.

Then he looked up.

Their eyes met.

"Alex?"

He stopped.

His expression changed when he saw her.

"Sierra."

She smiled slightly.

"What are you doing here?"

Alex glanced back at the hospital.

"Just had an appointment."

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah."

His answer came a little too quickly.

But before Sierra could ask anything else, he added,

"I'm fine."

She nodded.

"Okay."

There was a brief silence.

Then Sierra lifted her coffee.

"I was just getting this."

Alex looked at it.

"Can I join you?"

She smiled.

"Sure."

They found a small table near the café.

For a while, they just talked.

Nothing important.

Nothing heavy.

Sierra told him about work and some of the ridiculous things that had happened during her day.

Alex talked about his own work, people he had been dealing with, and how little he enjoyed having to attend meetings that could have been emails.

Sierra laughed.

"You still hate meetings."

"Always have."

"I remember."

He smiled.

The conversation felt surprisingly easy.

Alex found himself listening to her more than he intended to.

There was something strangely comforting about hearing Sierra talk again.

Three years had changed her.

She was more confident now. More settled.

But every now and then, something in her expression reminded him of the girl he'd known before.

And each time it happened, he had to remind himself why he had walked away.

He couldn't afford to forget.

Sierra took another sip of her coffee.

"So, what have you been doing all these years?"

Alex shrugged.

"Working. Keeping busy."

"That's your answer?"

"What do you want?"

"A better one."

He smiled.

"Maybe another time."

She rolled her eyes.

"You're still impossible."

"And you're still nosy."

"I prefer curious."

"Of course you do."

They laughed.

For a while, Alex allowed himself to forget everything else.

The hospital.

The appointment.

The things waiting for him.

The future he didn't want to think about.

He was simply sitting with Sierra again.

And for those few minutes, it felt almost normal.

Eventually, Sierra checked the time.

"I should go."

Alex nodded.

"Yeah."

She stood and picked up her bag.

Then she paused.

"Actually..."

Alex looked at her.

Sierra hesitated.

"Do you remember our conversation at the café?"

His smile disappeared slightly.

"Yeah."

"You said you'd explain things."

Alex looked away.

He knew this conversation was coming eventually.

He had hoped it wouldn't be today.

"There isn't really anything to explain."

Sierra frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"I told you what I told you."

"Alex, you said there was a reason."

"There was."

"Then what is it?"

He was quiet.

For a moment, he considered telling her something.

Anything.

But then he remembered why he had kept his distance for three years.

He couldn't let one afternoon change everything.

So he hardened his expression.

"I don't think it matters anymore."

Sierra stared at him.

"It matters to me."

Alex looked at her.

"Sierra, we were younger. Things happened. I made a decision."

"You made a decision without telling me why."

"And I don't owe you an explanation for every decision I make."

The words came out colder than he intended.

Sierra's expression changed.

Alex immediately regretted them.

But he didn't take them back.

Instead, he looked away.

"I'm sorry."

She shook her head.

"No. It's fine."

But it clearly wasn't.

She picked up her bag.

"Thanks for the coffee."

"Sierra—"

"It's okay."

She walked away before he could say anything else.

Alex watched her leave.

His chest tightened.

He had wanted to keep her away.

So why did hurting her still feel like the hardest thing he'd ever done?

He lowered his eyes.

For a few seconds, he simply sat there.

Then he stood and walked in the opposite direction.

---

Later That Evening

Elizabeth was sitting in the living room when Samantha walked in with two cups of juice.

She handed one to Elizabeth before sitting beside her.

"So," Samantha said, "how's Sierra?"

Elizabeth glanced at her.

"Why are you asking?"

"Because she's been acting weird."

Elizabeth smiled.

"She's been through a lot lately."

Samantha leaned back.

"Is it Alex?"

Elizabeth sighed.

"Probably."

Samantha was quiet for a moment.

"I don't know what those two are doing."

"Neither do I."

"But you think they still have feelings for each other?"

Elizabeth looked down at her cup.

"I think there's something there."

Samantha nodded.

"I do too."

"But that doesn't mean it will work out."

"I know."

They sat quietly for a moment.

Then Samantha smiled.

"Still, I don't think this is over."

Elizabeth laughed softly.

"With Sierra and Alex?"

"Definitely."

Neither of them knew what had happened between the two that afternoon.

And neither knew that Alex had just started building the distance between them all over again.