After Kei and Azul left, Clark's thoughts drifted to Rena. He wondered how she was, what she had been doing in the years he was gone. Did she hate him, or was she worried about him? Kei mentioned that he found out about Clark's disappearance from his dad. Was Rena there when his dad told them? Did his dad seek her out to tell her? What did she think? Was it okay for him to just show up out of the blue?
Kei said he fell in love with her, but what did she feel for Kei? It hurt to think about it, but he couldn't be selfish. He had been selfish once, and he wasn't sure if she'd forgive him. Maybe he should let it go, let her go, because she had people around her now. He left her alone, but she made it out; she wasn't alone anymore.
Did he even have a right to see her? He went undercover for her sake, all those years for her, but he broke his promise. He didn't make it back when he said he would. She even waited for him, and he missed her by two months. Should he have tried anyway, even though Whitlock was on his trail, hunting him down? What would have happened if he led Whitlock straight to her? Wait, did she know about it, about her father? If she was told he was missing, did they tell her why?
Clark's heart ached with guilt. He had promised to protect her, to be there for her, and he failed. The thought of her waiting for him, only to be met with silence, tore at his conscience. He had gone undercover to keep her safe, but in doing so, he had abandoned her. The guilt was a constant, gnawing presence, reminding him of his broken promises and the pain he might have caused her. He had sacrificed so much, but was it worth it if it meant losing her trust and love?
“Clark! Clark!” Dr. Vasquez’s voice snapped him out of his trance. He shook his head, looking up. “Jeez, I thought I lost you again. What are you so deep in thought about? I know it’s a lot to take in, missing almost two years of your life, but I need you to focus on your recovery.”
“Right, sorry, doc,” he mumbled, his voice heavy with the weight of lost time.
The doctor let out a sigh as she set her coffee on the table next to the bed and sat down in the chair. Crossing her arms and legs, she gave Clark an unreadable expression for a moment. “So, will you finally tell me about her?”
Clark snapped his head to face the doctor, a blush forming on his face, the heart monitor he was hooked up to speeding up. “W-what?”
She just chuckled, her expression turning into a kind, knowing smile. “The girl who seems to be capturing everyone’s heart. The one you briefly mentioned you were doing all that for, then refused to tell me anything about.”
Clark took a deep breath, his eyes reflecting a mix of pain and longing. “Her name is Rena,” he began, his voice barely above a whisper. “We grew up together. She was my best friend, my confidante. I promised her I’d always be there for her, but I broke that promise. I broke her heart.”
Dr. Vasquez leaned forward, her expression softening. “What happened?”
Clark swallowed hard, the memories flooding back. “I had to go undercover to protect her. Whitlock was after her, and I couldn’t risk losing her to him. I thought I was doing the right thing, taking her place, but… I left her alone. She waited for me, and I never came back.”
The doctor nodded, her eyes filled with understanding. “I wondered why someone so young was taking on such a big responsibility. It must have been incredibly difficult to leave her?”
“It was,” Clark admitted, his voice cracking. “Ree… she’s incredible. She’s strong, resilient, and has this light about her that draws people in. Her hair is a rich, chestnut brown that catches the light in the most beautiful way, and her skin is fair, almost porcelain-like. But it’s her eyes that are truly captivating—deep blue, like the sky just before dusk, with a depth that can pull you in. She loves to play the piano, and her music is mesmerizing. When she plays, her whole face lights up, and there’s this serene, almost ethereal glow about her. I remember how she used to lose herself in her playing, creating these beautiful, haunting melodies. It gives a sense of serenity, like everything in the world is right, even if just for a moment.”
Dr. Vasquez smiled gently. “She sounds like a remarkable person.”
“She really is,” Clark said, his eyes distant as he recalled the memories. “She has this laugh that could light up a room, and she was always there for me, no matter what. I thought about her every day. I wondered if she hated me for leaving, if she was worried about me. Kei told me he fell in love with her, and I can’t blame him. She’s… she’s everything. But I don’t know what she feels for him, if she even feels anything for me anymore. I don’t even know if I have the right to see her again.”
Dr. Vasquez reached out, placing a comforting hand on his arm. “Clark, it’s clear that you care deeply for her. Maybe it’s time to find out how she feels. You can’t change the past, but you can try to make things right now.”
Clark looked down, his heart heavy with guilt and hope. “I just don’t want to hurt her again. She deserves so much better.”
“Maybe,” Dr. Vasquez said gently, “but she also deserves to know the truth. And so do you.”
Clark took a deep breath, his mind racing with thoughts of Rena. “I don’t even know where to start. What if she doesn’t want to see me? What if she’s moved on?”
Dr. Vasquez gave him a reassuring smile. “You won’t know until you try. Sometimes, the hardest part is taking that first step. But it’s clear that you’re deeply in love with her, and that means something.”
Clark nodded slowly, the weight of his emotions pressing down on him. “I just… I can’t stop thinking about her. Every time I close my eyes, I see her face. I hear her laugh. I remember the way she used to look at me, with those beautiful blue eyes. She is my Serenity.”
Dr. Vasquez’s eyes softened. “It sounds like she means a great deal to you.”
Clark looked up, love and longing circling in his eyes. “She means the world to me.”
Dr. Vasquez said a little sternly, “Then you need to tell her. You deserve a chance to make things right. It’s never too late to try.”
Clark felt a pang as guilt swelled up, but then determination, he wanted her to know the truth. “You’re right. I need to tell her everything. Even if she doesn’t forgive me, she deserves to know the truth.”
Dr. Vasquez smiled warmly. “Then I’ll wish you good luck, Clark. I hope you find the peace you’re looking for.”
Clark nodded, a newfound resolve in his gaze. “Thank you, Dr. Vasquez. I don’t know what will happen, but I have to try. For her, and for me.”
Dr. Vasquez stood up, “Of course, but if you are going to meet her, you need to recover. You’ve been in a coma for quite some time. We need to run through some physical therapy so you can see her properly.”
Rena’s hands trembled slightly as she began to pack her bags for the trip. She had all the essentials packed, but she was adding a few extra things, just in case. As she dug through her closet, her fingers brushed against a familiar box—the one containing remnants from the fire. She wasn’t sure why, but she suddenly felt compelled to go through it.
Opening the box, she was greeted by a flood of memories. Pictures of her mother stared back at her, each one a snapshot of happier times. Her eyes welled up with tears as she gently traced the edges of a photograph. The anniversary of her mother’s passing was approaching, and it reminded her of the times when Clark would comfort her. It had been five years, and each year seemed to get harder, just like the first two had. But this year, she wouldn’t be alone. Kei would be there to support her.
Just as she was about to put the box away, something caught her eye. It was a small metal box with a lock. “How did I miss this before?” she wondered aloud. Her eyes widened as she flipped it over, revealing letters engraved on the back, partially obscured by black soot. She wiped off the soot to reveal the initials “C.E.” Her tears flowed freely now.
“Oh Clark, what happened to you?” she whispered, her voice breaking. “I’ll take this back with me. I’ll bury it by the tree again. It feels like the right thing to do. It’s a shame I’ll never know what’s inside, but without Clark to open it, there’s no point.”
She added the small box to her suitcase and zipped it up. Walking over to her window, she sat on the sill and looked up at the stars, their light shimmering like distant memories.
“Clark, wherever you are, I hope you know I loved you. I still love you and I always will,” she whispered to the night sky, her heart aching with a mix of sorrow and enduring love.
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