The Space Between Us.

e leaned back against the cool leather of the airport seat, legs crossed neatly, her blazer folded over her carry-on beside her. Sh

e universe seemed to be stal

xt project- a community arts center she hoped would secure her position as lead designer at the firm. It was her ticket t

was to be stuck in an ai

s seat

hers. He had messy brown hair, a bit too long, and a soft beard that framed his mouth. Worn jeans. A na

ead," she sa

e other ones near outlets are full. You'd think we were preppin

smile, then retur

e added, not expecting mu

igh

choed thoughtful

the compliment catching her

d leaned back, exhaling deeply. "I was supposed to be

icked to his camer

ssed. "Yeah. Well... so

of ret

villages, natural disasters. Now I mostly shoot local s

spite of herself. "Th

ed. "It's a livin

"Working on a redevelop

the reason re

amused. "I'm not th

like having a r

ers. Outside, the rain slowed to a drizzle. A flight attendant passed by with a

lbows on his knees. "C

brow, cautious bu

world right now-no work, no deadl

. She lived in deadlines. In planning. I

answer she could've given. "Most people pick

at do y

enna. It's old and crumbling and smells like ink and dust. I

s roma

said. "Unti

nder what story he wasn't telling. She didn't as

hink... if I could be anywhere, it'

ws lifted.

essure to be anything for anyone.

lowly. "Sou

mes lonely is bett

gently, "You sound like someone who'

n at her hands

xactly-though it hovered at the edge of it-but something quieter. Recognition. Li

avorite cities. Strange meals. The kind of conversations that

the street kids who asked to be

ned in her last year of grad school that

oftly. "Tha

appens. Sometimes v

h a quiet kind of admiratio

h the air, pulling them both out

muttered, che

The terminal had thinned out. Most people had eith

ind something edible? I'm buying. As thanks

eren't meant to mix beyond pleasantries. But something

aid. "But only i

inned.

minal. Neon lights buzzed overhead. The fries were ter

a climbing accident five years ago. How grief

be a teacher, not an architect. And how she still f

mes. No social media. No pho

was called, dawn was br

o Gate C17 in sile

neared the gate. "This wa

r," she sa

ved forward. People

her knuckles with his.

, sad and sweet

a picture in his mind. "Well. If we do me

to

hand, and walked away befor

trange, electric hours- was too fragile to survive real life. It belonged in that termi

d her, she could hear his footsteps. Not close enough to crowd her,

air and dull hum of the aircraft ahead greeting her like routine. She slid into her window seat in row 18, grateful for the

nto the project. Deadlines. Data. Meetings. She'd b

ke through

ious

tu

eside hers. "Eighteen B," he said, holding up h

ed at him. "Y

r, shaking his head with a stunned laugh. "I didn't e

er head, dazed.

Still think we're not suppos

, then closed it again. She di

moved through the aisle reminding people to stow their bags. Ezra shifted beside her,

So, what's in Seattl

seriously. I've worked under other people's n

ess-you've built your

osed to sound

e said. "Just s

hat about you? What's wa

out the window.

When he didn't offe

ned back, trying to steel herself for the next few days. She needed clarity, not dist

nd stories etched in the corners of his smile-wasn't just a

r, 30,000 feet above real life, w

or pretending to be. Ezra had taken off his jacket, revealing a charcoal gra

t it, curious. "W

her, blinking sl

king those kin

watching life happen through a lens. You know how people say they

ed. "I g

ou

owed to enjoy the moment at all. I was too focused on

and slow. "You alr

ke warmth. Unexpecte

down at her lap, the buzz of something

she said, "What do

toward h

weird, tempora

t meant to be anything more than what it is. Two

d. "And afte

y. "That's up to the uni

n them again, comforta

nt had arrived. The unraveling of whatever thread had tied them to

ray skies, damp sidewalks, and the beginning of

people bega

Ezra. "Do you want

ker of surprise c

mall, genuine

inked.

we don't..." He looked down at her, his voice lower now. "Then I

heart catch i

kiss to her cheek-gentle, l

and disappeared

ips had touched. She didn't chase him. Didn't call after him. Becau