Chapter 8
420 Words
The days after New Year slowly slipped back into routine. At least on the surface. The kids returned to school and kindergarten. The apartment grew quiet again. Mornings were no longer slow, but rushed, filled with respon - sibilities. Elena functioned. Just like she always had. And yet… something had changed. It wasn’t visible. Just… there. A feeling. At breakfast, she would drift off for a moment.
While washing dishes, she would pause without realizing it. And in the evenings, when everything fell silent, her thoughts always returned to the same place. To him.
They didn’t text.
They didn’t call.
And yet… he was there. All it took was passing by the window. Hearing the sound of a van.
Just a moment. That was enough. One afternoon, she saw him. He was standing outside the building, leaning against the van, his phone in his hand. He looked focused, as if he was dealing with something important.
Elena stopped in the doorway. Hesitated. Just for a second. Then she stepped outside.
Peter looked up. Their eyes met.
“Good afternoon,” she said. Again. He smiled.
That same calm smile.
“Hey.” For a moment, there was silence.
“Busy day?” she asked.
“As always,” he shrugged. Elena nodded. She knew she should leave. But her feet didn’t move.
“The kids?” he asked.
“At school and kindergarten.”
“So… a moment of peace?” he smiled slightly.
“I guess so.”
Silence again.
Everything felt normal.
And yet… nothing was.
When he stepped closer, she didn’t even notice it at first. He was just… suddenly there. Closer than he needed to be.
“Elena…” he said quietly. She looked up.
He wanted to say something. She could see it.
But in the end, he just shook his head slightly.
“Nothing.” And somehow, that nothing said more than anything else could have. Elena smiled softly.
“I should go,” she said.
“Me too.” Neither of them moved.
Not right away. Then, slowly, they did.
As she walked away, she could feel his eyes on her back. And this time… she didn’t turn around.
That evening, she sat by the window.
Her hands resting in her lap, her thoughts far away. She knew something was happening.
Something she couldn’t control. And maybe… she didn’t want to. She took a deep breath.
“This is not a good idea,” she whispered to herself. But it didn’t sound convincing.
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