Chapter 1: Saltwater Ghosts (Portland, Present Day)
Elena and Liam step out of the train station into the rain, holding hands. Liam hails a taxi, and they get in. As the taxi drives through the streets of Portland, Elena looks out the window, taking in the sights of the city she once dreamed of calling home.
The taxi pulls up in front of a small, charming house. Liam pays the driver and leads Elena to the front door. He opens it and ushers her inside.
The house is cozy and inviting, with a fire burning in the fireplace. Liam takes Elena's coat and hangs it up, then leads her to the living room. They sit down on the couch, and for a moment, neither of them says anything. Then Liam breaks the silence.
'Elena, I'm so glad you came,' he says.
Elena nods, smiling. 'I'm glad I came, too,' she says.
They talk for a while, catching up on the years that have passed. Liam tells Elena about his life in Portland, about the friends he's made and the places he's seen. Elena tells him about her life back home, about the job she quit and the decision she made to come to Portland.
As they talk, Elena realizes how much she's missed Liam. She remembers the way he used to make her laugh, the way he used to look at her with those intense blue eyes. She realizes that she's never really stopped loving him.
But there's also a part of her that's scared. She's scared of getting hurt again, of opening herself up to the possibility of heartbreak. She's not sure if she's ready to take that risk.
Liam seems to sense her hesitation. He reaches out and takes her hand, looking into her eyes.
'Elena, I know things haven't been easy for you,' he says. 'But I want you to know that I'm here for you. I always have been, and I always will be.'
Elena nods, feeling a warmth spread through her. She knows that Liam means what he says. She knows that he's always been there for her, even when she pushed him away.
'Liam, I'm scared,' she says.
'I know you are,' he says. 'But you don't have to be. We can take things slow. We can just be friends, if that's what you want.'
Elena considers his offer. She knows that being friends with Liam would be better than not having him in her life at all. But she also knows that she wants more than that. She wants to be with him, to hold him, to kiss him.
Before she can say anything, Liam leans in and kisses her. It's a gentle kiss, full of tenderness and love. Elena closes her eyes and melts into his arms, feeling a sense of peace and happiness that she hasn't felt in a long time.
When they pull apart, Liam looks into her eyes.
'Elena, I love you,' he says.
Elena's heart skips a beat. She's wanted to hear those words for so long, but now that she's finally heard them, she's not sure how to respond.
'I love you, too,' she says, her voice barely above a whisper.
Liam smiles, and for a moment, everything feels perfect. But then reality starts to set in. Elena remembers that she's only in Portland for a short time, that she has to go back home eventually. She's not sure if she can leave Liam again, if she can go back to her old life without him.
Liam seems to sense her doubts. He takes her hand and looks into her eyes.
'Elena, I don't want to lose you again,' he says. 'I know this is sudden, but I want you to stay here with me. I want us to be together.'
Elena's heart races. She wants to say yes, but she's also scared. She's not sure if she's ready to make such a big commitment, to give up everything she has back home.
'Liam, I need some time to think,' she says.
Liam nods, understanding. 'Take all the time you need,' he says. 'I'll be here waiting for you.'
With that, he gets up and walks out of the room, leaving Elena alone with her thoughts.
Elena sits on the couch, staring into the fire. She knows that Liam is right, that she should stay in Portland with him. She knows that he loves her, and that she loves him too. But she's also scared of making the wrong decision, of giving up everything she's worked so hard for.
She thinks about her job, her friends, her family. She thinks about the life she's built for herself back home. She knows that it's not perfect, but it's hers. She's not sure if she's ready to give it all up for Liam.
But then she remembers the way she felt when Liam kissed her, the way she felt when he told her he loved her. She knows that those feelings are real, that they're worth fighting for.
She takes a deep breath and makes a decision. She gets up and walks out of the room, looking for Liam.
She finds him in the kitchen, making a cup of coffee. She walks up to him and takes his hand.
'Liam,' she says. 'I've made my decision. I want to stay here with you. I want us to be together.'
Liam's face breaks into a smile. He pulls her into his arms and kisses her, and for a moment, everything feels perfect.
But then Elena remembers that there's still one more thing she needs to do. She needs to go back home and tell her family and friends about her decision. She needs to pack up her things and move to Portland for good.
Liam seems to sense her thoughts. He takes her hand and looks into her eyes.
'Elena, I'll go with you,' he says. 'We'll do it together.'
Elena nods, feeling a sense of relief. She knows that with Liam by her side, everything will be okay.
And with that, they start planning their new life together.