Sparks Reignited

18 | A Proposition

Hearing Kyle's confession, my jaw drops.

Am I hearing things right?

After everything that he has gone through, he still wants us to be together?

As I stare at him in absolute shock, he's not done with what he wants to say. "Forget what I've said yesterday or the past week," he says. "Each time I saw you, I was so mad and wanted to hurt you with my words. But now, I realize I was in the wrong. My actions were childish of me and I admit it. Now that I think about it, you're the one who's having this the hardest. I thought I lost you, but you've lost everything; your memories, your sense of identity, and your mother."

He stares off into the distance, watching the seagulls soar freely through the air in a discernible pattern. "I wasn't there when you got hurt," he whispers.

I can no longer stand to see him like this. The more he says, the more my heart aches. I now know that he cares for me far more than I realize.

Why did I ever let go of his hands?

"Hey." I reach for the back of his hand and give him a light squeeze. "Kyle, it's okay. I'm okay."

He glances at me wordlessly, but his eyes betray him. They waver with emotions and his face crumbles. For once, he looks tired. "I can't stay away from you, Riley," he admits at last. "I feel as if I'm going crazy."

"I've moved schools and avoided the places where we often hang out in the past," he sighs. "But these efforts of mine are proving to be pointless. I still think of you every day, and seeing you back here again isn't helping me."

My breath hitches in my throat, overwhelmed by his honesty and attachment to me. He flips his hand around and catches mine, interlacing our fingers.

"Even if I've to be a greedy person," he murmurs, "I don't want to lose you again, Riley."

I swallow hard and try to suppress my emerging tears. He says he wants us to be together, but something else is bothering me.

"Don't you have a girlfriend? Carly?"

A frown immediately sets in on his face. "She's not," he replies shortly before pausing. "Is that what she told you?"

Taking my silence as a confirmation that it's true, he shakes his head in annoyance. "Don't listen to her. She's just talking crap."

I nod before drawing in a shuddering breath. "Kyle," I try to speak calmly. "The person you love isn't here anymore. I'm no longer the same. If you want to be with me again, you might just end up hurting yourself."

He stares at me for a long time, his emerald eyes piercing through me. "Do you know what's one reason I fell for you? It's because you always put other people's feelings before yours. And it's precisely what you're doing right now. You're being considerate of my feelings first."

By now, my body is trembling uncontrollably, and tears are threatening to spill from my eyes. It's surprising how much he notices and understands me more than anybody else can. His love for me—or rather, the old Riley—is amazing, but it's downright terrifying because it means he knows he has more to lose. I've already broken his heart once and there's a likelihood that I might do it again for the second time without knowing.

My vision blurs as I look at him with an aching heart.

"Kyle..."

I watch as his hand reaches out to tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "You may think you've forgotten everyone, Riley, but I honestly don't think you've completely forgotten yourself."

I'm stunned. "How can you be so sure of that?"

He pauses for a brief second before answering, his voice confident.