Confronting the Past

Nick's eyes locked onto Maya's, filled with a deep sense of regret and longing. They had been enjoying a lovely evening with Sabrina, but as they sat together, Nick couldn't shake off the feeling that he had been distant with Maya lately. He knew it was because of the incident by the pool, and he wanted to make things right. "Maya, can I talk to you for a minute?" Nick asked, his voice low and gentle. Maya's expression changed, and she looked at Nick with a mix of curiosity and concern. "Of course, what's up?" she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. Nick took a deep breath, trying to gather the right words to express his feelings. "I've been meaning to talk to you about what happened the other day," he said, his eyes searching hers. "I'm so sorry for being distant with you. I know I grabbed your wrists, and it was because...because I was scared." Maya's eyes widened slightly, and she nodded for him to continue. Nick's gaze drifted to her wrists, and he felt a pang of guilt. He had been so caught up in his own emotions that he hadn't taken the time to consider how his actions might have affected her. "I'm sorry I didn't handle it better," Nick said, his voice filled with remorse. "When Sabrina walked in on us, I just...I didn't know how to react. And then, when I grabbed your wrists, I saw the cuts on your arm, and I feel like I freaked out." Maya's expression softened, and she reached out to touch Nick's arm. "It's okay, I understand," she said. "You were scared, and I was...hurt." Nick's eyes locked onto hers, filled with a deep sense of longing. "I feel like I've been distant with you ever since," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don't want to be distant with you, Maya. I want to be close to you, to support you and be there for you." Maya's eyes searched Nick's, and she saw the sincerity and concern there. She knew he was trying to make amends, to be there for her. As they sat there, Nick reached out and gently took Maya's arm in his hands. He rolled up her sleeves, revealing the cuts on her arm. Maya winced, but Nick's eyes were filled with concern and care. "I'm so sorry," Nick whispered, his fingers tracing the cuts on her arm. "I had no idea. Why didn't you tell me?" Maya took a deep breath, trying to explain. "I didn't want to worry you," she said. "And I didn't know how to bring it up." Nick's face contorted in pain, and he pulled Maya into a gentle hug. "You can always tell me, Maya," he whispered. "I'm here for you, and I want to support you through everything." As they hugged, Sabrina walked into the room, a concerned look on her face. "Hey, guys, is everything okay?" she asked, her voice soft. Nick and Maya pulled back, and Nick smiled weakly. "Yeah, everything's fine," he said. "We were just...talking about some stuff." Sabrina's eyes searched theirs, and she nodded, understanding. "Okay, well, if you need anything, just let me know," she said, before turning and walking out of the room. Nick's eyes locked onto Maya's, filled with a deep sense of love and concern. "I promise to be there for you, to support you and listen to you," he said. "No more being distant, okay?" Maya smiled, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. "Okay," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. As they sat there, Nick's arms wrapped around Maya, holding her close. She knew that she was exactly where she was meant to be – with Nick, who loved her and cared for her deeply.