CHAPTER 10: THE SPACE BETWEEN US
207 Words
Adrian stepping into Elara’s home felt… wrong.
Not because he didn’t belong.
But because this was the first place where she wasn’t untouchable.
No glass walls.
No boardrooms.
No armor.
Just her.
“Sit,” she said, her voice calm but distant.
He obeyed.
That alone said a lot.
Elara remained standing, arms crossed.
“You don’t just get to walk back into my life because you changed your mind.”
“I didn’t change my mind,” Adrian said quietly. “I changed myself.”
She let out a soft, humorless laugh.
“That’s convenient.”
“It’s necessary.”
Silence filled the room.
Heavy.
Real.
“You don’t trust me,” he added.
“No.”
“You don’t forgive me.”
“No.”
A pause.
“But you didn’t shut the door.”
That hit.
Elara looked away.
“I don’t know why I didn’t,” she admitted.
Adrian stood slowly, careful not to invade her space.
“Because what we had wasn’t fake.”
Her chest tightened.
“Don’t,” she whispered.
“I need you to hear it.”
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “I need time.”
He nodded.
And for once—
He didn’t push.
- Writer
