Distance & Promises
820 Words
Two weeks felt like two years.
Elina stared at her phone for what felt like the hundredth time in the past hour. No new messages. No calls. Adrian had insisted on staying completely silent throughout the investigation. He said it was the best way to protect them both. But the silence—oh, it hurt.
Monday morning, she stepped into the office with a heavy heart. Everything looked normal again, but she knew better. Eyes still watched. Whispers still lingered—just softer now, more subtle.
Miss Hana Azeem, now the temporary team lead, was a sharp, no-nonsense woman. Elina had worked with her before and knew exactly how hard it was to earn her trust.
“Elina, can you stay back after lunch? We need to review the branding deck,” Hana said, tone brisk and professional.
Elina nodded. “Yes, Miss Hana.”
After lunch, they sat in the meeting room, flipping through slides. One after another. Until Hana leaned back, letting out a sigh.
“Look, I know you’re under pressure. But I need you to be sharper. The board is watching closely.”
Elina swallowed hard. “I understand. I’ll improve.”
Hana studied her for a moment. “And Elina…”
She looked up.
“I don’t care who you’re dating. Just don’t let it dull your fire. You’re better than the things they’re saying.”
Elina blinked. That wasn’t criticism. That was… advice.
After work, she sat on the bench at the small garden behind the office. The city buzzed around her, but her mind was full, her heart aching.
Then her phone rang.
Adrian Khalid.
Her hands trembled as she answered. “Hello…”
“Hi, sunshine.”
She nearly cried just from hearing his voice.
“Why only now?”
“The board just wrapped up their review. I didn’t want to reach out until things were more settled.”
Elina exhaled slowly. “Are you okay?”
“I’m… coping. Miss your voice.”
She smiled faintly. “I miss everything about you.”
There was a pause. Then he said quietly,
“Elina… I left because I needed you to find your footing without my shadow. But the truth is, my heart never left.”
Tears prickled her eyes. “Do you think… we’ll be okay?”
“If we survived this much, Elina, I don’t think we’re just going to be okay. I think we’ll be unstoppable.”
Week Two
The days passed with new challenges. Elina began picking up extra responsibilities, learning to lead even without Adrian’s support. Quietly, steadily—she grew.
She started receiving little sparks of support—texts from Mira who had just returned from a client visit, nods of encouragement from Faris who remained her silent guardian, even warm smiles from colleagues who once only stared.
Her nights were lonely, but she filled them with journaling. One night, she wrote:
“Some love isn’t tested to be broken—it’s tested to see how deeply it has rooted.”
She carried that with her each morning like armor.
Then on the fourteenth day, a short message appeared:
**Adrian:** “Back tomorrow. 9 a.m. Can I see you first?”
She smiled. Her heart danced.
The Next Morning
The office felt different. Like something was about to happen.
Elina arrived early, sitting quietly in the pantry, hands curled around a coffee cup she hadn’t touched.
Then the elevator doors opened.
And he walked in.
Adrian.
Wearing a deep blue shirt, hair slightly tousled the way she liked it. But his eyes—his eyes were scanning the room, searching.
And when their eyes met, the world stilled.
He walked toward her.
“Elina…”
“Adrian.”
They stood, barely inches apart.
“I wanted to see you first because…” He took a breath. “I’ve cleared things with HR. Everything’s settled. But I’ve decided to… resign.”
Elina froze. “What?”
“I’m tired of choosing between work and you. So I made a decision—I’m choosing you.”
Tears filled her eyes. “Adrian…”
He gave her a small smile. “But before I go, I have something to ask you.”
He pulled out a small box from his coat pocket.
Not a ring.
A key.
“I bought a small studio. Not fancy, but it’s ours. I know we’re not at the marriage phase yet, but… will you be my housemate, my girlfriend, my partner—for whatever’s next?”
Elina laughed softly through her tears. “Housemates with my ex-boss? That sounds dangerous.”
Adrian grinned. “But exciting, right?”
She nodded slowly. “I want to.”
He stepped forward and hugged her tightly. In front of the coffee machine and half-empty pantry chairs, they stood there—two souls who had been through fire and still chose each other.
To be continue..
- Writer
