d her before Ethan eve

tly, disguis

n the afternoon, the kind that pretended to be

g with your sister. A

screen longer th

face. But they reminded her of something she had temporaril

e wat

le j

med conclusions w

onse, erased it,

some time

eedom she had felt earlier that week now felt fragile, like it could b

he attended her

erruption as she spoke - about the loneliness, the patience that turned into self-

herapist asked gently, "

t he'll change just enoug

s surpri

't change?" the

"That he will... and

t followed was

faced his own ver

tions came wr

gh w

at the o

ll surviving

he always had. But this tim

his mother c

she said quietly

," he r

tired when it's t

is eyes. "I

trying doesn't mean asking her

red long after

an old colleague - someone who had never

today. She lo

wasn't mea

it

l witho

t of another man, but of the life she was

y the window, watching the

ne buzz

er me

er op

ay didn't silence the world - it

chest and whispered, "I didn

ft to

how long she could protect that choice f

nding began wit

someone she barely spoke to anymore - an old acquain

oman at a restaurant. The angle suggested intimacy where there was none

moved on so fast,

ightened arou

oment, she d

self she had no claim, no right, no expecta

hing inside

arged t

lient. Someone from work. Ethan had alway

as how quickly

jeal

e

estraint, the patience - had been temporary. Fear that she

e down and stare

minded herself. Because trus

e in his apartment, unaware

ue needed advice. He had agreed without thinking twice - not

me, his phone showe

the urge t

r words: As long

includ

she canceled her t

she felt too raw to explain why a photograph

r a long wa

tep fel

be proving she still expected something. If she staye

way,

sed the shift befo

ope - faltered. Her silence felt different now. He

id someth

too far - or n

ird day,

t one

ou, please tell me. I don't want

ad it

once

est ti

tanding followed by quiet suffering.

yped

me question whether this

ly came

did y

hesi

ent th

es pa

d, it was longer than an

e you explanations - but because I want to be transparent. I'm

ed at th

defe

ismis

an

. acco

eath t

he would change, but whether she could allow space f

one last

I'm still not ready. But

reply im

id, it wa

the time

down and leaned

d. Voices would continu

me, silence between

as c