Chapter 13: The Distance Between Us
881 Words
Chapter 13: The Distance Between Us
Lila had learned that happiness could be frightening.
Not because it was something bad.
Because after losing so much, happiness felt temporary.
Like something beautiful that could disappear without warning.
She noticed it whenever she laughed too loudly.
Whenever she found herself enjoying a normal day.
Whenever she forgot, even for a moment, that her mother was gone.
A small voice inside her would whisper:
Don't get too comfortable.
You know what happens when you love something.
You lose it.
But lately, she was learning not to listen to that voice.
At least, she was trying.
---
The Hawthorne Estate was preparing for another busy week.
Ethan was leaving for a business trip to Chicago.
Only four days.
That was all.
But Lila found herself noticing the difference before he even left.
The house felt quieter.
Not empty.
Just different.
She hated admitting it.
Because Ethan was her employer.
A person she respected.
A friend.
Nothing more.
At least, that's what she told herself.
---
"You're distracted."
Lila looked up from the kitchen counter.
Claire stood across from her, watching with an amused expression.
"I'm not."
"You put sugar in the salt container."
Lila froze.
She looked down.
Sure enough.
She had made a mistake.
"Oh."
Claire laughed softly.
"That's definitely distracted."
Lila quickly fixed it.
"I'm just thinking about the schedule."
Claire gave her a knowing look.
"The schedule?"
"Yes."
"Not Ethan leaving tomorrow?"
Lila immediately looked away.
"I didn't say that."
"You didn't have to."
Lila sighed.
"Claire."
"I'm not teasing you."
Her expression softened.
"I'm just saying it's okay to care about someone."
Lila became quiet.
Because that was the part that scared her.
Caring.
After Ethan left her life, she had spent months learning how to stand alone.
The idea of needing someone again felt dangerous.
"I don't want to depend on anyone."
Claire nodded.
"I understand."
"Because people leave."
Claire was silent for a moment.
Then she said:
"Yes. Sometimes they do."
Lila looked at her.
"But?"
"But the people who truly matter don't ask you to stop being yourself. They simply walk beside you."
Lila thought about that.
She had spent so much time fearing abandonment that she forgot something important.
Love wasn't supposed to make you disappear.
---
The next morning, Ethan prepared to leave.
Lila helped organize a few things he needed before his flight.
"Your schedule is here."
He accepted the folder.
"Thank you."
"And your assistant emailed the updated documents."
"You're very organized."
She smiled.
"I've noticed you like things organized."
"I do."
"I noticed."
A small smile appeared on his face.
"You notice a lot."
"So do you."
The words surprised him.
Because she was right.
They both noticed things.
The little details.
The things other people ignored.
"Chicago is only four days," he said suddenly.
Lila looked confused.
"I know."
"I just meant..."
He paused.
"I'm not disappearing."
Something about the way he said it made her heart tighten.
Because he knew.
He knew she had experienced people leaving.
And somehow, he was reassuring her without making a big deal of it.
"I know," she said softly.
---
The first two days after Ethan left were normal.
At least, they were supposed to be.
Lila focused on work.
Claire kept her busy.
The house continued as usual.
But there was one thing she noticed.
She missed their conversations.
Not constantly.
Not dramatically.
Just little things.
A comment he would make.
A joke she knew he would appreciate.
A question she wanted to ask him.
She hated how quickly someone could become part of your routine.
---
On the third night, Ethan called.
Lila stared at her phone when his name appeared.
She answered almost immediately.
Then realized she had answered too quickly.
"Hello?"
"Hi."
His voice sounded tired.
"Did I interrupt?"
"No."
She smiled.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes."
"You always say that."
A quiet laugh came through the phone.
"Do I?"
"Yes."
"Maybe I should stop."
"Maybe."
A comfortable silence followed.
Neither of them seemed in a hurry to end the call.
"How is the house?"
Lila smiled.
"Still standing."
"Good."
"Your father is pretending he doesn't enjoy Claire's cooking."
"That's accurate."
"And the garden looks good."
"Good."
"And..."
She stopped.
"And what?"
Lila looked down.
"Nothing."
But Ethan noticed.
"Tell me."
She hesitated.
"I guess I just realized I haven't talked to you in a few days."
The words were simple.
But they meant more than she intended.
Ethan was quiet.
Then:
"I noticed too."
Lila's heart skipped.
Before either of them could say anything else, the call ended because of a bad connection.
She stared at the screen.
The sudden silence felt louder than before.
---
The next morning, everything changed.
Lila was in the garden when she heard a familiar voice.
A voice she hadn't expected.
"Lila."
She turned.
And froze.
Standing at the entrance of the estate was someone she hadn't seen in over a month.
Someone connected to the life she was trying to leave behind.
Ethan Carter.
Her ex-boyfriend.
The person who had walked away when she needed him most.
"I need to talk to you."
Lila stared at him.
The past had found her.
And this time...
she wasn't the same girl it had left behind.
- Writer
