I got my driver’s license last week, a milestone I’d always imagined would feel different. But driving around OBX now, everything seemed off. It didn’t feel as exciting as I thought it would.

Then, my phone buzzed. I didn’t expect it, but when I saw his name, I froze.

“Congrats on the license. Bet you’re feeling free now.”

I stared at the message for what felt like forever. The words were simple, casual, but the weight behind them was more than I could handle in that moment. He didn’t need to reach out, not after everything. But here he was, saying the words I never thought I’d hear from him again.

I didn’t know what to do. I stared at the screen, my heart beating faster. Should I respond? Should I ignore it?

I placed the phone on the passenger seat and kept driving, trying to clear my mind. The streets I knew so well felt different now—empty in a way they hadn’t been before. Rafe’s face kept flashing in my mind.

After a while, I pulled over by the beach, staring at the waves crashing against the shore. The message was still there, unread.

I felt like I was standing at a crossroads. He was reaching out, but did I even want to go back there?

It took hours before I finally opened my phone, typing slowly: “Thanks. It’s… different now, I guess. Not the way I thought it’d be.”

I stared at the message for a long time, but left it at that.

A few minutes later, my phone buzzed again.

“I get it. I just wanted you to know I’m still here.”

I closed my eyes for a moment. The words lingered in the air, heavier than before.

Then, I heard footsteps behind me. I turned around and saw Rafe standing there, eyes steady. “I’m not asking for anything… but I’m not walking away again.”