Tessa Young sat in the corner of a small café, her fingers tracing the rim of her coffee cup absentmindedly as she stared out the window. The world outside seemed to move in slow motion, the people walking by unaware of the turmoil swirling inside her. It had been months since she and Hardin Scott had spoken, months since their last fiery argument, and yet, she couldn't stop thinking about him. The familiar ache in her chest returned every time she passed the places they used to go together—places that now seemed haunted by their memories.
The lyrics of Taylor Swift's "Cornelia Street" echoed in her mind: "We were a fresh page on the desk, filling in the blanks as we go..." It felt so true, like their relationship had started as something new and exciting, full of promise, but somewhere along the way, the pages had become messy, filled with mistakes and regrets. Now, every street in the city reminded her of him, of them.
As she sipped her coffee, Tessa's phone buzzed on the table, pulling her out of her thoughts. She glanced down at the screen, her heart skipping a beat when she saw Hardin's name flash across it. A part of her wanted to ignore it—she had promised herself that she would move on, that she wouldn't let him back in. But another part of her, the part that still loved him despite everything, couldn't help but wonder why he was reaching out now.
Taking a deep breath, Tessa picked up the phone and opened the message.
Hardin: Can we talk?
That was all it said—no explanation, no apology, just those three simple words. But those words carried the weight of everything they had been through, everything they had said and done to each other. Tessa stared at the screen, her mind racing. Could she really go back to him after everything?
Before she could second-guess herself, she typed a response.
Tessa: Where?
Later that afternoon, Tessa found herself standing outside the apartment she used to share with Hardin. The memories flooded back as she stared up at the building—the late nights spent curled up on the couch, the arguments that seemed to shake the very walls, the quiet moments where they had both let their guards down, just for a little while.
She hesitated at the door, her hand hovering over the handle. She had told herself she was done with him, that their relationship was too toxic to ever work. But here she was, standing on the threshold of the past, wondering if there was still something worth saving.
Taking a deep breath, Tessa pushed the door open.
The apartment was quiet, almost eerily so. Hardin was sitting on the couch, his back to her, staring out the window. He didn't turn around when she entered, and for a moment, Tessa wondered if she had made a mistake by coming here.
But then he spoke, his voice low and rough. "I didn't think you'd actually come."
Tessa swallowed, her heart pounding. "I didn't think I would either."
Hardin finally turned to face her, his eyes heavy with the weight of everything that had happened between them. He looked tired, worn down by the battles they had fought—both with each other and within themselves. And yet, despite the pain in his eyes, there was still something there, something that pulled Tessa toward him, no matter how hard she tried to stay away.
"I've been thinking about us," Hardin said quietly, his gaze never leaving hers. "About everything."
Tessa crossed her arms, trying to protect herself from the flood of emotions threatening to overwhelm her. "And?"
Hardin let out a long sigh, running a hand through his messy hair. "I know I've screwed up. I've said things, done things, that I can't take back. But... I miss you, Tessa. I miss us."
Tessa's heart ached at his words, but she forced herself to stay strong. She had heard this before, had been pulled back into his orbit only to be hurt again. "Hardin, we've been through this. We're toxic for each other. Every time we try to make it work, we end up tearing each other apart."
Hardin flinched at her words, but he didn't look away. "I know. But I've been trying to change. I've been working on myself—going to therapy, dealing with my issues. I'm not saying I'm fixed, or that everything's magically better, but... I want to be better for you."
Tessa's chest tightened, a part of her wanting to believe him, to believe that things could be different this time. But the scars of their past still lingered, a constant reminder of how much pain they had caused each other.
"I don't know if I can do this again," Tessa admitted, her voice trembling. "I don't know if I can survive it if we fall apart again."
Hardin stood up, crossing the room until he was standing right in front of her. He reached out, gently taking her hands in his. "I'm not asking you to forget everything that's happened. I'm not asking you to pretend like it didn't hurt. But I'm asking for one more chance, Tessa. Just one more."
Tessa's heart raced as she looked up into his eyes, seeing the raw vulnerability there. It was rare for Hardin to let his guard down like this, to show her just how much he cared. And in that moment, she realized that despite all the pain, all the heartbreak, she still loved him. She always had.
"I'm scared," Tessa whispered, her voice barely audible.
Hardin's grip on her hands tightened, his eyes filled with a quiet determination. "I am too. But I'd rather face that fear with you than live without you."
Tessa felt tears welling up in her eyes as she looked at him. She wanted to believe that they could make it work this time, that they could be different. But the fear of being hurt again was overwhelming.
"Hardin," she began, her voice breaking, "what if we're just fooling ourselves? What if we're not meant to be?"
Hardin's expression softened, and he leaned in, pressing his forehead against hers. "Then at least we tried. But I can't walk away from you, Tessa. Not again."
Tessa closed her eyes, a single tear slipping down her cheek. She wanted to be strong, to protect herself from the pain that seemed inevitable. But standing here, with Hardin so close, she realized that walking away from him would hurt just as much.
"I don't want to lose you," Tessa whispered.
Hardin's voice was soft, but filled with emotion. "You won't. I promise."
That night, Tessa found herself lying in bed next to Hardin, the familiar warmth of his presence wrapping around her like a blanket. It was strange, being back here after all the time they had spent apart. But it also felt right, like this was where she was supposed to be.
As she lay there, her head resting on his chest, she thought about everything they had been through—the fights, the breakups, the moments of pure happiness. It had been a rollercoaster, one that had left them both bruised and battered. But through it all, they had always found their way back to each other.
Hardin's fingers gently traced patterns on her arm, and Tessa closed her eyes, letting herself relax into the moment.
"I'm scared too, you know," Hardin said softly, breaking the comfortable silence.
Tessa looked up at him, surprised. "You are?"
Hardin nodded, his eyes filled with vulnerability. "Yeah. I'm scared of messing this up again. Of losing you for good. But I want to try, Tessa. I want to make this work."
Tessa's heart swelled at his words, and for the first time in a long time, she felt a sense of hope. Maybe they could make it work. Maybe, just maybe, they could find their way back to each other.
"I want to try too," Tessa whispered, her voice barely above a whisper.
Hardin smiled, leaning down to press a soft kiss to her lips. "Then we will."
As the weeks passed, Tessa and Hardin began to rebuild their relationship, piece by piece. It wasn't always easy—there were still moments of tension, still old wounds that needed time to heal. But they were both committed to making it work, to finding a way to move forward together.
One evening, as they walked through the streets of their city, hand in hand, Tessa couldn't help but think of the lyrics from "Cornelia Street" once more: "I hope I never lose you, hope it never ends, I'd never walk Cornelia Street again..."
It was true. Despite everything, she couldn't imagine a life without Hardin. He was a part of her, and no matter how much they hurt each other, they always found their way back.
As they walked past a familiar corner—one that held memories of their first date—Tessa smiled to herself. She didn't know what the future held for them, but for the first time in a long time, she felt like they had a real chance.
And that was enough.
"Hey," Hardin said, squeezing her hand. "What are you thinking about?"
Tessa looked up at him, her heart full. "I'm thinking that no matter what happens, I'm glad we're here. Together."
Hardin smiled, his eyes softening. "Me too."
As they continued walking, the city lights twinkling around them, Tessa felt a sense of peace settle over her. They still had a long way to go, but for the first time in a long time, she wasn't afraid.
She had Hardin by her side, and that was all that mattered.
