For the first time in weeks...
Lily stopped answering Ethan's messages.
Not completely.
Just enough.
Enough to create distance.
Enough to create confusion.
Enough to convince herself she was doing the right thing.
The guilt followed immediately.
Every unread message felt wrong.
Every missed call hurt.
Every moment of silence felt heavier than the last.
Yet she continued.
Because loving Ethan had become dangerous.
Not only for him.
For herself.
For everyone around them.
The more she cared...
The more she feared losing him.
And fear was slowly making her reckless.
---
Three days passed.
Three painful days.
Three long days of pretending.
Pretending she was okay.
Pretending she wasn't checking her phone every five minutes.
Pretending she didn't miss him.
The lies beca
