Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring

Chapter 124

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Over the last couple of days, Brandon had been spending more and more time with Emma and her family; the time he spent with them brought him enormous joy, yet at the same time, it filled him with a pang that was hard to ignore. Feelings for her, long buried, now surfaced in ways he himself did not quite understand,

They made him restless, filled his mind, and now made him question every decision he had ever made.

He had four years, four long years, to tell Emma how he felt. But he didn't.

And now, well, Emma had moved on. She was in a new relationship with Jaden, a man she'd only recently met.

He couldn't blame her for moving on with her life, but he blamed himself for having stood still. He despised the jealousy that clawed at his chest, the regret weighing upon his heart. How could he have let her slip away?

It was today that Brandon finally gathered the confidence to ask Emma out, but not because he wanted her romantically; it was a 'friendly outing. He'd told himself it was just an excuse to spend time with her alone, but deep down, he knew it was a desperate attempt to feel closer to her before she became even further out of reach. He picked her up that afternoon, his heart racing the moment she got into the car, her smile radiant as ever. The drive to the beach, save for the soft hum of music drifting from the speakers, was silent: Brandon had carefully curated the playlist. As a familiar song began to play, his hands gripped the steering wheel tighter. Memories of Diana rushed through his mind, her laughter, her strength even on her sickbed, her ever-compassionate kindness. She was his world; her passing had almost killed him.

Diana had been more than a soulmate; she was his twin flame, his equal in every way. Life had been unkind to her, and her health had always been fragile; in the end, she was betrayed by those closest to her-her own cousin.

Her death was still a pain he had, but then seeing Emma, who resembled Diana to an amazing extent, had seemed like light at the end of a very long tunnel. The music began to make Brandon blink back tears and he steal a glance at Emma as she swayed to its rhythm. She wasn't Diana, he knew that, but she was the one who had given him hope all over again.

the place all to themselves. He wanted this moment to be special, something that she would always remember. He opened her car door and reached out his hand too

her laughter ringing out into the air as she playfully teased Brandon. She wasn't much of a beachgoer, she admitted, but she'd make an exception. They ran along the shore, playing in the water and laughing like

saw.

started to set, the mood turned. They sat together on the

used to love water," Brandon said suddenly,

tone. "She did?" she asked softly, trying to

to go to the beach every week, come what may. She said the sound of the waves made her feel at peace, like everything else

was," he muttered. "Until she was diagnosed with cancer." His voice started to break, and Emma watched as the tears welled up inside his eyes before spilling over. "She tried

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III

Chapter 124

we never

voice barely

at his tears.'m so sorry to hear that," whisper. She

I never thought it would be possible to feel anything, really. But then you came into my life, and you made me feel whole. It was like

swallowed hard. "Brandon." she started, but she trailed