110 A Shared Past, A New Beginning
Hazel’s POV
The night breeze ruffled my hair as I leaned against the balcony rail. Sebastian stood beside me, his presence solid and comforting. Our conversation about his academic genius had opened up something between us a deeper understanding
“Penny for your thoughts?” Sebastian asked his voice gentle in the darkness.
I smiled without looking at him. Just thinking about the past.”
“Regrets?”
The question hung in the air. Did I regret the years with Alistair? The blood donations? The blind devotion?
“Not regrets exactly,” I said carefully, “More like wondering.”
“About?
I turned to face him. “What if we had met properly at university? If our paths had crossed directly instead of just… orbiting each other
Sebastian’s eyes held mine. “What do you think would have happened?”
“Nothing” admitted with a small laugh. “I was so stupidly devoted to Alistair. Even before we started dating, he was the center of my world.
The memory of that young, naive girl made me cringe inwardly. How desperately I had wanted to be needed, to be important to someone.
“After his diagnosis. “My voice trailed off. “I thought it was fate, you know? That I was the perfect blood match. That I was meant to save him.
sebastian remained silent, listening
Every three months, like clockwork. I’d donate. The nurses knew me by name I shook my head: “I was so proud of being his lifeline.
That’s not something to be ashamed of. Sebastian said quietly “Loyalty is admirable
“Blind loyalty isn’)” I countered “I built my entire identity around being his savior His
Shared Pad A Now this ning
perfect match
The moon cast Sebastian’s lace in silver night as he considered my words
Speaking of perfect matches, I said, changing the subject. Tell me more about the river incident remember you as a much younger boy.
Sebastian smiled. I was twelve, actually. Just small for my age
“Twelve?” I stared at him in surprise. But you seemed so… little?
“Late bloomer, he said with a shrug. “I didn’t hit my growth spurt until fifteen
I tried to reconcile the image of the drowning child with the imposing man beside the
“My grandfather was furious about the river, Sebastian continued. “Said I was too spoiled, too sheltered. After that incident, he sent me to military training over school breaks
“Military training? As a child? I couldn’t keep the shock from my voice
Sebastian’s laugh held no bitterness. “Not official military-a special program for the children of important families. Designed to build character and ‘instill discipline”
“That sounds awful.”
“It was the making of me,” he said simply. “I was a spoiled brat before that. Thought the
world revolved around me.”
I tried to picture Sebastian as a spoiled child. It seemed impossible
“How long did that last? The training?”
“Three years he replied. “Every school break. Summer, winter, spring. While other
kids were playing video games, I was running obstacle courses and learning survival
skills
wonder be carried himself with such quiet strength.
“Did you hate your grandfather for it?” I asked
Sebastian considered the question. “At first, absolutely. By the end, I was grateful.
We fell into comfortable silence, both lost in memories
“You know what’s hiring? Sebastian said after a moment When you pulled me from The river I thought you were older than me
Really?
“You seemed so confident so in charge” His eyes crinkled with amusement Talmost called you big sister the next day at the hospital.”
The unage made me laugh. “That would have been something”
I was terrified of water for months after he admitted. Could barely take a bath without panicking
This vulnerability, freely shared, touched me deeply “And now?
“Captain of the university swim team,” he said with a grin. “Best way to overcome fear is to face it.
I shook my head, smiling. “Of course you were
The night air had grown cooler. Sebastian noticed my slight shiver and moved closer his body heat a welcome barrier against the chill.
“Is this okay?” he asked, his voice low.
I nodded, surprised by how comfortable I felt in his presence
“It’s strange.” I said after a moment. “To think our lives have been intersecting all these
years.”
“Strange in a bad way?”
“No” I said thoughtfully. “More like… reassuring. Like there’s some pattern to all the
chaos
Sebastian’s shoulder brushed against mine. “My grandfather believed that significant people appear in our lives for a reason. Not always immediately clear, but significant
nonetheless
“Wise man”
“Terrifying man” Sebastian corrected with a chuckle. “But yes, wise in his way
studied his profile “The mischievous boy who almost drowned seems very different
From the disciplined businessman I know now
“Same person, Sebastian said. Just with better impulse control.
The easy laughter that escaped me felt good-natural and unforced. When was the last time I had laughed like this with Alistar? Had Lever
Tell me more.” I said, surprising myself with my curiosity About young Sebastian
A playful glint appeared in his eyes “Like what? My rebellious phase? My first business
The time I hacked into my school’s computer system to change the lunch
ventur
menu
All of it. I said. realizing I wanted to know everything about him. The boy he was. The man he became
Sebastian turned to face me fully. “It’s a long story.
I’ve got time I said softly.
The moonlight illuminated his smile. “Well then. I guess I should start at the beginning:
As Sebastian began his tale. I felt something shifting-a page turning, a new chapter beginning. The night wrapped around us like a cocoon, creating a private world where only our shared past and potential future existed.
For the first time since my world had shattered, I wasn’t thinking about what I’d lost. Instead. I was curious about what might be found.
