Evelyn stared at the crumpled letter in her trembling hands, her vision blurred with unshed tears. The ink had faded, but the words still carried the weight of a thousand unspoken confessions. Elias had written it two years ago. Two years of silence, two years of pretending nothing lingered between them.
"I never stopped loving you, Eve. I'm just too much of a coward to tell you."
She pressed the paper to her chest, feeling the ache ripple through her ribcage. The world outside her window was a storm of color—the last leaves clinging desperately to the branches as autumn fought its final battle. It was the kind of day Elias would've painted, capturing every dying ember of the season. But he was gone. And all she had left were his words.
A soft knock on her door snapped Evelyn out of her spiral.
"Eve? It's Mia," her best friend called gently.
Evelyn quickly folded the letter and slipped it beneath her pillow. "Come in."
Mia stepped inside, her hazel eyes immediately narrowing when she saw Evelyn's blotchy face. "You've been crying."
"No, it's nothing," Evelyn lied, forcing a smile.
Mia crossed her arms, a knowing look on her face. "Is this about Elias?"
Evelyn hesitated, then nodded.
"I found something," she confessed, her voice cracking.
Without waiting for permission, Mia perched on the edge of the bed. "What did you find?"
Evelyn retrieved the letter, handing it to Mia with reluctant fingers.
Mia's expression darkened as she read. "Holy shit, Eve… he wrote this?"
"Two years ago."
Mia finished reading and exhaled sharply. "He loved you this whole time, and he never said a word?"
"I guess he thought it was easier to disappear than face me."
Mia's gaze softened. "Evelyn, you deserve to know why he left. You deserve closure."
Evelyn shook her head. "It doesn't matter now. He's gone."
Mia hesitated, then placed a hand on her friend's shoulder. "You should confront him."
"I can't, Mia."
"You have to," Mia insisted. "You'll never heal if you don't."
Evelyn bit her lip. Part of her wanted to rip the scab open, to demand answers, to scream at Elias for leaving. But another part—the part she hated—still loved him.
"I'll think about it," she whispered.
Mia squeezed her shoulder. "Good. Now, get dressed. There's a charity event at the gallery tonight. You promised you'd come."
"I don't—"
"No excuses. You need fresh air and maybe a distraction."
Evelyn relented, letting Mia drag her into the world outside her room.
---
The gallery was a shimmering sea of people, laughter, and clinking glasses. The walls were lined with canvases, each one capturing a different slice of life—some hopeful, others haunting.
Evelyn wandered through the crowd, her heart heavy but her face composed. She hadn't been to a public event since Elias left. Everywhere she looked, there were reminders of him. His favorite abstract artist. A painting of autumn leaves, so vivid it felt like standing in a forest.
"Evelyn Carter," a voice drawled behind her.
She turned, her stomach dropping.
It was Damien Cole.
Tall, dark-haired, and dangerously charming, Damien was Elias's best friend—or had been, before everything fell apart. He hadn't spoken to Evelyn since the night Elias vanished.
"Damien," she greeted cautiously.
He smirked. "Didn't expect to see you here."
"Same."
"Still mourning the ghost?"
Evelyn bristled. "What do you want?"
Damien's expression shifted, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face. "To warn you."
Her pulse quickened. "About what?"
"Elias isn't who you think he is."
Evelyn glared. "I don't need your cryptic bullshit tonight, Damien."
"I'm serious." He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "There are things you don't know. Things that could hurt you."
"Like what?"
He hesitated. "Ask him about his father. Ask him why he really left."
Before she could press him further, Damien melted into the crowd.
Evelyn's head spun. What did Elias's father have to do with this?
She barely noticed when Mia reappeared at her side. "What did Damien want?"
Evelyn clutched her glass tightly. "To confuse me."
"Forget him. Let's get out of here."
But Evelyn couldn't forget. The seed had been planted.
---
That night, unable to sleep, Evelyn sat by her window, the letter in her lap. The city lights blurred into smudges against the rain-speckled glass.
She pulled out her phone, her thumb hovering over Elias's contact.
Call him. Demand answers.
But she was too much of a coward.
Then a message came through.
Unknown Number: I need to see you. Tomorrow. The old pier at sunset.
Her heart stopped.
It had to be him.
Evelyn stared at the screen, her pulse thundering in her ears.
Was she ready to open old wounds? Could she survive the truth?
She typed back a single word: Okay.
---
The following evening, Evelyn stood at the edge of the abandoned pier, the wind tangling her hair. The sun bled into the horizon, casting the world in shades of fire and sorrow.
Footsteps approached.
She turned.
Elias.
He looked older, wearier, but still the boy she'd loved. His dark hair fell into his eyes, his hands shoved into his pockets.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Elias swallowed hard. "You came."
Evelyn crossed her arms. "You asked."
He nodded, guilt shadowing his face. "I owe you an explanation."
"Yes," she bit out. "You do."
Elias took a shaky breath. "I left because I was scared. Not just of how much I loved you, but because… my father was involved in things. Dangerous things. When he died, I inherited debts, enemies. I thought if I stayed, you'd get hurt."
Evelyn's stomach dropped. "You should have told me."
"I wanted to. A hundred times. But every time I looked at you, I couldn't. I thought disappearing was the only way to keep you safe."
Tears pricked her eyes. "You broke me, Elias."
"I know." He stepped closer. "And I'm sorry. I never stopped loving you, Eve."
She wanted to scream, to hit him, to fall into his arms. Instead, she whispered, "Then why the letter?"
His face twisted. "Because I was weak. I wrote it when I thought I'd die, and I didn't have the courage to give it to you."
Evelyn's chest ached. "You don't get to come back now and expect everything to be okay."
"I don't expect anything. I just needed you to know the truth."
A heavy silence fell.
Then Elias added, almost brokenly, "And because… there's something else. Someone's been following you. Damien isn't who you think he is."
Evelyn's breath hitched. "What do you mean?"
"I found out too late. He's the reason my father's dead. He wanted the inheritance, the business. And now he's coming after you to get to me."
A chill ran down Evelyn's spine.
Elias reached for her hand. "I'll protect you. I swear."
Before Evelyn could respond, a gunshot rang out.
Elias staggered back, blood blooming on his shirt.
Evelyn screamed, catching him as he fell.
"Elias!"
His lips moved, forming one final word: Run.
She looked up, her world spinning.
In the shadows, a figure stepped forward.
Damien.
Smiling.
And everything Evelyn thought she knew shattered.