Maya did not sleep well that night. She woke up often, her mind full of questions. When morning came, she felt tired and uneasy.
She went through her morning routine slowly. She kept checking the time. Leo's flight would land at 10 AM. He said he would come straight to her apartment.
At 11:30, her doorbell rang. Maya's heart jumped. She took a deep breath and opened the door.
Leo stood there. He looked tired from his trip. In his hands, he held two coffee cups from her favorite place.
"I brought you coffee," he said. "Can I come in?"
Maya nodded and stepped aside. They sat on the sofa in her living room. For a moment, neither of them spoke.
"Tell me everything, Leo," Maya said quietly. "Please don't leave anything out."
Leo took a deep breath. "Lisa is my boss. We met when I started working at the new office here. We went out a few times. It lasted about a month."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Maya asked.
"Because it meant nothing," Leo said. "It made me realize that no one else was you. That's when I knew I had to try to get you back. I ended things with Lisa the day before I texted you."
"Who sent me those messages, Leo?"
"I think it was Lisa," he said. "She was angry when I ended things. She said I was making a mistake. I think she found out I was seeing you again."
He reached for his phone. "Look," he said, showing her a text message. It was from Lisa, sent two days ago. It said: "You'll regret this."
Maya looked at the message. It felt real. But she still felt hurt.
"Why did you date her, Leo? Was it because you were lonely?"
"Yes," he said honestly. "And because I was trying to forget you. But it didn't work. Nothing works, Maya. You're the only person I want."
Maya looked into his eyes. She saw truth there. She saw the man she had fallen in love with. The man who was now being honest with her, even when it was hard.
"I believe you," she said softly. "But please, no more secrets. If we're going to try again, we need to be completely honest with each other."
"I promise," Leo said. "No more secrets." He reached for her hand. "I love you, Maya. I never stopped."
Maya felt tears in her eyes. "I love you too," she whispered.
They held each other for a long time. The fear and doubt began to melt away.
Later that day, Maya's phone buzzed. It was another message from the unknown number.
This time, Maya typed back: "I know who you are. Please leave us alone."
She blocked the number. Then she deleted the messages. She didn't want that negativity in her life anymore.
She looked at Leo, who was helping her make dinner in her small kitchen. He looked up and smiled at her.
For the first time in a long time, Maya felt truly happy. She had chosen to trust. She had chosen to love. And it felt right.
---
Questions for you:
Do you think Maya made the right choice? What would you have done in her situation? Have you ever had to choose between trust and doubt in a relationship?