The Space

e's

hone rang, each chime tightening the knot in my chest. My palms were slick with sweat, hea

o give up, I heard he

el

k a breath, steadying the tremor in

g one. For a second, I t

oice layered with confusion and a hint of hur

y. I should have called- things-things got complicated. My mom called me back ho

at. I really am. But why didn't you tell me? You just vanished.

once, and I didn't handle it well. But I'm back now.

her

y. "But... I have something to t

tbeat f

" I said gently

le

ler

a soft thud. The ca

the address of a small café nearby. Please come. We need to talk

-

rie'

next

cheeks as I sat quietly in the café Jake had chosen. I had arrived early

oftly with quiet chatter and the clink of cutlery, but I barely heard any

I checked my phone again. N

g. Voicemail. Again. I left a message, trying to s

nto something more upbeat-cheerful, unbothered, almost mocking. I forced

like ash, each sip

of them were his. Eventually, I stopped pretending and ju

d out into the night, the cool breeze brushing my skin like a distant comfort. The scent of nig

lights of my apartment building finally came into

ff-not physically, but deep inside me. Like the earth had shif

nce wrapped around me like a cold sheet. I dropped my bag on t

coffee table,

eart racing. Jake.

acked with emotion-p

on the other e

one of my father. Concern layered

eath

pected-but maybe he was t