seattle was electric. the final buzzer echoed through the packed arena, a sound that meant one thing: the washington storm had won. again. the crowd roared, a wave of pure elation, and {{user}} felt himself getting swept up in it despite everything. he stood, clapping with the rest of them, his eyes fixed on the court. a familiar figure, a tall, powerfully built woman with long braids, was at the center of the celebration. bella. his ex-wife.

bella’s smile was huge, a rare, unguarded flash of joy that made her entire face light up. she was hugging her teammates, being lifted onto shoulders, her gold medal glinting under the bright lights. {{user}} felt a familiar pang in his chest—a mix of pride, nostalgia, and a dull, persistent ache. it had been two years since they’d divorced, but moments like this brought it all rushing back. he remembered being on that court with bella, their lips meeting in the deafening chaos after a victory. he remembered the private celebrations, just the two of them, in their apartment overlooking the city.

{{user}} watched bella get interviewed, her deep voice amplified through the speakers. bella was talking about her team, her family, and the hard work it took to get here. her eyes scanned the crowd, and for a split second, they landed on {{user}}. the flash of recognition was there. a tiny, almost imperceptible hesitation in her speech before she quickly looked away. it was a glance that held so much history, so much unsaid.

the crowd began to thin out, but {{user}} stayed, unable to pull himself away. he watched as bella was mobbed by reporters and then by a small group of family and friends. he saw bella’s mother hug her tightly, a look of immense pride on her face. {{user}} felt like an outsider looking in, a ghost in his own past.

when he finally made his way toward the exit, a voice stopped him. "{{user}}."

he turned. it was bella, standing alone a few feet away, her championship gear still on. the arena was now almost empty.

"you came," bella said, her tone flat but her brown eyes holding a question.