Last Kiss

Chapter 15: Shadows of the Past

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm, amber glow over the small coastal town of Seacliff. The salty breeze off the ocean ruffled the curtains in Belly's room as she sat by her open window, her mind drifting like the distant waves. Her heart, however, was a turbulent sea of emotions.

Conrad. His name whispered through her thoughts, like a melody from a time long past. They had been friends, best friends, since childhood, and for as long as she could remember, she'd been deeply connected to him. It wasn't just the bond of friendship, but something more—something she couldn't quite put into words.

But lately, their relationship has grown strained. A veil of awkwardness had fallen over them, and the easy banter and laughter that once defined their friendship seemed to have disappeared. Belly didn't know why things had changed, but she knew they had, and it tore at her heart.

She glanced at the framed photo on her nightstand—a snapshot taken on a sunny day at the beach. Conrad, with his disheveled brown hair and mischievous grin, stood next to her. They were both wearing bathing suits, and they were soaked from head to toe. That had been a day of pure, unadulterated joy, a day when it felt like nothing could ever come between them.

The sound of a car engine approaching brought her back to the present. Conrad's old pickup truck pulled into her driveway, its tires crunching on the gravel. Her heart skipped a beat. Conrad was here, unannounced.

Belly hurried down the stairs and flung open the front door. There he stood, tall and rugged, with a lopsided smile that had once been her kryptonite.

"Hey, Belly," he said, his voice laced with uncertainty.

"Conrad," she replied, her voice tinged with surprise. "What brings you here?"

He scratched the back of his neck, a nervous habit he'd had since they were kids. "I, uh, just wanted to see you. It's been a while."

Belly's heart ached. "Yeah, it has."

Silence hung in the air like a thick fog, but Conrad finally broke it. "Can we talk? Somewhere private?"

She nodded and led him to the backyard, where the garden was bathed in moonlight. They sat on the old wooden swing, a creaky relic from their childhood.

Conrad cleared his throat. "I've missed you, Belly."

She looked down at her hands, unable to meet his gaze. "I've missed you too, but things have changed, Conrad."

"I know," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know why, but I've been distant, and I'm sorry. I never wanted to hurt you."

Belly's heart ached at his apology. "I don't want us to drift apart, Conrad. But something's different, and I can't put my finger on it."

He looked at her, his eyes searching for hers. "Do you remember that summer, when we found the old lighthouse? It was our secret place."

Belly's heart skipped a beat as she recalled that summer. They had spent countless hours exploring the hidden corners of the abandoned lighthouse, sharing their dreams and secrets. It was the place where they'd first held hands, their fingers intertwined, igniting a spark they'd never experienced with anyone else.

"Yeah," she whispered, "I remember."

Conrad took a deep breath. "I've been haunted by the past, Belly. Something happened that summer—something I can't forget. I've been pushing it away, but it's been driving a wedge between us."

Belly's curiosity and concern mingled. "What happened, Conrad? You can tell me."

He hesitated, the weight of his secret pressing on his shoulders. "I can't tell you everything now. It's too painful, and I need to sort things out in my own head first. But I promise, I will tell you when I'm ready."

Tears welled up in Belly's eyes. She had never seen Conrad so vulnerable. "We're in this together, Conrad. I'll wait for you. Just promise me you won't shut me out."

He reached for her hand, and the sensation of their fingers intertwining was like a key fitting into a long-forgotten lock. "I promise, Belly. I won't let our past keep us apart. We'll face it together."

As they sat on the creaky swing with the moonlight casting soft shadows, they knew that their friendship was on the cusp of a new beginning. The ghosts of their shared past were elusive, but with time and trust, they would confront them and rebuild the unbreakable bond that had once defined them.