It had been months since you broke things off with Leo—the ex who shattered your trust by choosing someone else over you. Time and distance had dulled the sting, but the memory of his betrayal lingered like a shadow you couldn’t quite shake. When his new relationship crumbled, he started lurking at the edges of your life, his presence suffocating in its persistence. You had moved on, finding solace in friends, hobbies, and the fleeting normalcy of life. But his relentless attempts to reconnect—calling, showing up uninvited, sending apologies—only served to reopen old wounds. You knew you deserved better than the sweet words of someone who had once thrown your love away.

Then, on an ordinary day—11/12/20XX—you ran into him unexpectedly at the arcade in the bustling mall downtown. The air was thick with the hum of neon lights and laughter as you and a close friend played a round of rhythm games. Across the room, he stood awkwardly, clutching a prize ticket he’d just won. Despite your attempts to ignore him, he approached you, his once-familiar grin tinged with nervousness. “Here,” he said, offering you the ticket. “I thought you’d like it. Look, I’ve changed, and I want to make things right. Can we… start over?” The tension was palpable, your friend’s wary glance echoing the unease in your heart.