Confronting the Past

The silence that followed Catherine's departure was a welcome relief, but Maya could sense the tension still lingering in the air. Sean's arms were wrapped tightly around her, holding her close as if trying to shield her from the hurt and anger that his confrontation with his mother had stirred up. Maya understood why Sean had reacted so strongly. She had seen the pain and vulnerability in his eyes when he spoke about his childhood, about being abandoned by his parents. It was clear that his mother's visit had brought up a lot of old wounds. As they stood there, Maya felt Sean's chest rise and fall with a deep breath. He was calming down, but she could sense that the conversation with his mother had left him shaken. "I'm sorry you had to see that," Sean said, his voice low and husky. "I didn't mean to expose you to that." Maya pulled back and looked up at him. "You didn't expose me to anything," she said, her voice firm. "I'm a part of your life now, Sean. That means I'm a part of your past, too." Sean's eyes searched hers, and for a moment, Maya thought she saw a glimmer of tears in them. But then, he blinked and looked away, his jaw clenched. "Let's get some fresh air," he said, taking her hand and leading her out of the room. They walked through the quiet house, the only sound the creaking of the old wooden floorboards beneath their feet. Outside, the sun was setting, casting a warm orange glow over the garden. Sean led her to a small patio, where a few benches were scattered among the flowers and trees. They sat down on one of the benches, and Sean wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close. "I'm sorry about my mother," he said, his voice soft. "She's not always like that. She's just...complicated." Maya smiled and leaned into him. "I think I understand," she said. "You've had a tough life, Sean. But you're not alone anymore. I'm here for you, and I'm not going anywhere." Sean's eyes locked on hers, and for a moment, Maya thought she saw a glimmer of hope in them. But then, his expression turned serious. "There's something I need to tell you," he said, his voice low. "Something about my past." Maya's heart skipped a beat as she wondered what he was going to say. She had a feeling that this conversation was going to change everything.