Iris

Iris never thought she would see him again. College was supposed to be her clean slate, a place where she could bury the past and focus on her future. For months, she had walked the quiet paths of campus with her books pressed close to her chest, speaking little, listening more, and slowly building a life without shadows. Then James appeared. The same face she once admired in high school, the same voice that used to draw her in, now carrying a weight she could never forget. He stood in front of her outside the lecture hall, smiling as if nothing had happened. “Iris? Hey… it’s been a while.” Her heart clenched, and for a moment she couldn’t breathe. She looked at him, the old memory burning in her mind, and forced her voice steady. “Yes. It has.” James stepped closer, too familiar, too casual, while Iris held her books tighter, the barrier between them. He spoke as if the past could be erased with a smile. She spoke as if it could never be forgiven. And with each word, the distance between them grew sharper, setting the stage for everything to come.