a's

e streets, hands gripping the steering wheel tighter than necessary. The t

enough to show me something real, something raw. The next, he shut down

t of the car. The night air was cool against my flushed sk

ng my mind more time to replay everything-his tormented expression, the way h

frustration. Before I could slide the key into the lock, my pho

vi

ant opening myself up to more pain, more

g my hesitation. I swiped to an

avy and thick. Then a slow, uneven bre

arp jolt through my che

ter this time. "Be

lair, the man who walked through life as

door and stepped inside, balancing

respond

," I wh

use. Then

ed. "The place

out another word, b

er's

waters reflecting the glow of city light

e. My chest felt tight, my thoughts restless. Coming here

ps appr

t, her hair swaying with each step. The sight of her stirred

t away, her eyes sear

was all I

hest, her expression unread

ed heavily on my shoulders. N

st someone once." The confession felt like glass scrapin

e just waited, giving

admitted. "And then, o

but saying them al

tant step closer

said, voice h

nderstanding c

t of me," I continued

hitched. "Wh

"She was in trouble, and I ignored it. Told myself it wasn't my fight." M

around the edges of her

confession, a wound ripped open. "By the

between us, he

r fingertips grazing

sier that way." My voice was rough, un

but she didn't look away. "

, a truth I had been

was everything I had convinced myself I c

to fists. "I don't k

ntil we were inches apart