Episode 3
Maya spent the rest of the day unpacking, but her mind was elsewhere. Every time her phone buzzed, her heart jumped. She kept thinking about Leo’s words: *“I never stopped loving you.”* Part of her wanted to believe him, but another part remembered the pain of their breakup.
That evening, Sarah called again.
“So? How did it go with Leo?”
Maya sighed, putting her phone on speaker as she folded clothes.
“It was… confusing. He said he’s back in the city for good. And he wants to see me again.”
“And how do you feel about that?” Sarah asked.
“I don’t know. Part of me is happy. But what if things go wrong again? Last time, it hurt so much.”
“Maybe he’s changed,” Sarah said gently. “People do, you know.”
“Or maybe I’ll just get hurt again,” Maya replied softly.
Later that night, Maya was scrolling through old photos on her phone. Pictures of her and Leo at the beach, laughing. Celebrating birthdays. Cooking together in her old apartment. They looked so happy. But photos don’t show the whole story. They don’t show the arguments, the lonely nights, the tears.
Her phone lit up with a new message. It was Leo.
“I know this is sudden. But would you like to have dinner with me tomorrow night?”
Maya’s first instinct was to say no. To protect herself. But then she remembered his smile at the coffee shop. The way he listened to her. The hope in his eyes.
She took a deep breath and typed:
“Okay. Dinner sounds nice.”
Almost instantly, he replied:
“Great! I’ll pick you up at 7.”
The next day, Maya found herself standing in front of her closet again. She wanted to look nice, but not like she was trying too hard. She finally chose a simple blue dress. It felt like her, but a little more special.
At 7 p.m., the doorbell rang. Maya opened the door to find Leo standing there, holding a small bouquet of flowers. Her favorite—white lilies.
“You remembered,” she said, surprised.
“Of course I did,” he said with a soft smile.
They went to a quiet Italian restaurant they used to love. The same place where they celebrated their first anniversary. The owner, an old man named Giuseppe, recognized them and smiled warmly.
“It’s been a long time,” he said. “Welcome back.”
They ordered their favorite dishes—lasagna for Maya, chicken parmesan for Leo. For a while, they talked about small things. Work, friends, movies they’d seen. It felt comfortable, like slipping into a favorite old sweater.
But then Leo grew quiet. He looked down at his plate, then back at Maya.
“I need to be honest with you, Maya. About why I left.”
Maya’s heart tightened. This was the conversation she had been both dreading and wanting.
“I was scared,” he said. “Scared of how much I loved you. Scared of failing you. When I got that job offer, it felt like an escape. But leaving you was the biggest mistake of my life.”
Maya didn’t know what to say. She had spent years thinking she wasn’t enough. That he left because he didn’t love her enough. But now he was saying it was because he loved her too much.
“I’m not asking you to forgive me,” Leo continued. “I just want a chance to show you I’ve changed. That I can be the person you deserved all along.”
Maya looked into his eyes and saw sincerity. And pain. The same pain she had carried for years.
When he drove her home, they sat in the car outside her apartment building.
“I had a really nice time tonight,” Maya said.
“Me too,” Leo replied. “Can I see you again?”
“Yes,” she said. “I’d like that.”
As she walked into her apartment, her phone buzzed. It was a message from Leo.
“Thank you for tonight. For giving me a chance.”
Maya smiled as she read it. But as she got ready for bed, doubts crept in. Was she making the same mistake again? Letting him back into her life so easily?
She didn’t have the answers. But for the first time in years, she felt hope.
---
Questions for you:
What would you do if someone from your past wanted a second chance? Do you believe people can really change?
Episode 4
The next morning, Maya woke up feeling lighter. The sun was shining, and for the first time in a long time, she felt hopeful. She made herself breakfast and hummed as she moved around her kitchen. Her phone buzzed with a message from Leo.
"Good morning. I had a dream about our dinner last night. Woke up smiling."
Maya felt her cheeks warm. She typed back, "Me too. It was a good night."
She spent the day finishing her unpacking. This time, it felt different. It felt like she was building a new home, not just moving to another apartment. Around noon, her phone rang. It was Leo again.
"I have an idea," he said. "There's a new art exhibit downtown. I remember how much you love art. Would you like to go this weekend?"
Maya smiled. "I'd love that. Saturday?"
"Perfect. I'll pick you up at 2."
The next few days passed in a happy blur. Maya and Leo texted often. They talked about small things—what they were eating, funny things they saw during the day, memories they shared. It felt easy and comfortable, like they had never been apart.
On Saturday, Leo arrived right on time. He looked handsome in a simple blue shirt and dark jeans. Maya felt a flutter in her stomach when she saw him.
The art exhibit was beautiful. They walked through the galleries, talking about the paintings. Leo remembered how Maya loved bright colors and landscapes. He pointed out pieces he thought she would like.
After the exhibit, they walked through the park nearby. The afternoon sun was warm on their faces. They found a bench near a fountain and sat down.
"I've missed this," Leo said quietly. "Just being with you."
"Me too," Maya said. She looked at his profile as he watched the water. She remembered all the reasons she had loved him. His kindness. His way of noticing small things. The way he made her feel safe.
But then she remembered the past. The lonely nights. The empty promises. The way he had shut her out when he was stressed.
As if reading her thoughts, Leo turned to her. "I know this can't be easy for you. Trusting me again."
Maya nodded. "It's scary," she admitted. "I don't want to get hurt again."
"I don't want to hurt you," Leo said. "I know I have to earn your trust back. And I will. However long it takes."
They sat in comfortable silence for a while, watching people walk by. Families with children. Couples holding hands. An old man feeding birds.
"Can I ask you something?" Maya said. "What made you decide to come back now? After all this time?"
Leo was quiet for a moment. "My dad got sick last year," he said finally. "It made me think about what really matters in life. About the choices I've made. And I realized that leaving you was the biggest regret of my life."
Maya reached out and touched his hand. "I'm sorry about your dad. Is he okay?"
"He's doing better now. But going through that... it changes you. It makes you want to fix the things you've broken."
The sun began to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. Leo walked Maya home. At her door, he hesitated.
"Can I see you tomorrow?" he asked.
"Yes," Maya said. "I'd like that."
He leaned forward and kissed her cheek softly. "Goodnight, Maya."
"Goodnight, Leo."
Inside her apartment, Maya leaned against the door, her heart full. She wanted to believe in this second chance. She wanted to believe that people could change.
But that night, as she tried to sleep, the doubts returned. What if he got scared again? What if he pulled away when things got hard?
She didn't have the answers. But she knew one thing—she was willing to try.
---
Questions for you:
Have you ever given someone a second chance? How did it work out? What advice would you give Maya right now?
Episode 5
The week passed quickly for Maya. She saw Leo almost every day. They went for walks, tried new restaurants, and spent quiet evenings at her apartment watching movies. It felt like old times, but better. They talked more now. They listened to each other.
On Friday, Leo invited Maya to his place for dinner. He wanted to cook for her. Maya felt a little nervous as she got ready. She had not been to his apartment before. This felt like a big step.
When she arrived, Leo welcomed her with a hug. His apartment was neat and simple. There were books on the shelves and a few plants by the window. On the wall, she saw a photo of them from years ago. It surprised her.
"You kept that?" she asked, pointing at the picture.
"Of course," he said. "I never took it down."
He cooked her favorite meal—pasta with garlic and olive oil. They sat at his small table and ate. The food was good. The company was better.
After dinner, they cleaned up together. Then they sat on the sofa with cups of tea.
"I have something to tell you," Leo said. His voice was serious.
Maya felt a little worried. "What is it?"
"I have to go away for work next week," he said. "Just for three days. A meeting in Chicago."
Maya relaxed. "Oh. That's okay."
"But it made me think," he continued. "About last time. About how I left without really talking to you. I don't want to make that mistake again."
He took her hand. "So I want to ask you properly. Is it okay if I go? I know it's short notice. And I know we're just starting again."
Maya felt tears in her eyes. This was different. The old Leo would have just told her he was going. This Leo was asking her.
"Of course it's okay," she said. "It's your work. And it's only three days."
"Thank you," he said. "And I'll call you every day. I promise."
The next few days were busy for Leo. But he kept his promise. He called Maya every evening. They talked about their days. It felt good. It felt safe.
But on the second day he was away, something happened. Maya was having lunch with Sarah.
"So things are good with Leo?" Sarah asked.
"Yes," Maya said. "Really good. He's different now. More open."
"That's great," Sarah said. But she looked a little worried.
"What is it?" Maya asked.
"Nothing," Sarah said. "I just... I want you to be careful. I don't want you to get hurt again."
Later that day, Maya was at home when her phone buzzed. It was a message from an unknown number.
The message said: "You should ask Leo about his friend Lisa. They work together in Chicago."
Maya's heart dropped. Who was Lisa? Why was someone sending her this?
She tried to call Leo, but his phone was off. He was probably in his meeting.
She felt sick. All her old fears came rushing back. Was Leo the same person? Was he lying to her?
She didn't know what to do. Should she believe the message? Or should she trust Leo?
That night, when Leo called, Maya tried to act normal. But he could tell something was wrong.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"I'm fine," she said. "Just tired."
They talked for a few minutes, but Maya was quiet. She didn't mention the message.
After they hung up, she looked at the unknown number again. She thought about replying. But what would she say?
She decided to wait. She would talk to Leo when he got back. She would ask him directly.
But the doubt was there now. Like a small crack in glass. She didn't know if it would heal or get bigger.
---
Questions for you:
What would you do if you got a message like that? Would you wait to talk in person, or call right away? Do you think Maya should trust Leo?