CROSSING LINES
612 Words
Crossing Lines
The key stayed on Ava’s nightstand untouched.A constant reminder of what she left behind.She stared at it every morning before work and every night before sleep.Still,she didn’t call.Ethan kept his silence too.
Julian didn’t push.He was patient,funny,charming in a quiet way.They started having lunch together.Work dinners turned casual.Sometimes he’d walk her home.Never more than a kiss on the cheek.
But the line was thinning.
One evening,after a product shoot,he stood beside her on the rooftop terrace,Paris lit up below them.
“Do you ever stop pretending you’re not thinking of someone else?”he asked.
She blinked.
He smiled without bitterness.“You don’t have to answer.I already know.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.You’re allowed to carry your past.It’s human.”
She looked down.“Sometimes I wish I could forget.”
“Don’t.You remember because it mattered.”
There was a pause.Then he stepped back.
“When you’re ready to stop remembering him—I’ll be here.”
And just like that,he walked away.
The next morning,she walked to work early.Tried to bury herself in schedules,deadlines,fabric swatches.But her mind wouldn’t settle.
Around noon,she stepped outside for air.
And froze.
Ethan was standing across the street.
Same coat,same tired eyes,same heart-stopping presence.
He didn’t wave.
Just waited.
She walked over slowly.
“What are you doing here?”
“Didn’t want to keep sending you keys and letters.”
“You flew to Paris without telling me?”
“I didn’t think you’d say yes if I asked.”
She crossed her arms.“You can’t just show up like this.”
“I know.”
“I’m building a life here.”
“I can see that.But are you living it?”
That cut deeper than she liked.
She stared at him.
He stared right back.
Then he said,“You never called after the key.”
“I wanted to.”
“Then why didn’t you?”
“Because I was scared it would feel too easy.”
He nodded.“Love isn’t supposed to be easy.It’s supposed to be real.”
She closed her eyes for a second.“Why now?”
“Because I miss you.And I got tired of pretending like I don’t.”
“You think showing up is enough?”
“No.But it’s a start.”
They stood there,a thousand things unsaid between them.
Finally,she asked,“Where are you staying?”
He shrugged.“I was hoping you’d tell me.”
She sighed.
Then turned and started walking.
He followed.
Back in her apartment,she made tea while he stood awkwardly by the window.
“You know,I met someone,”she said without looking at him.
“I figured.”
“He was kind.Good.Tried to give me something clean.”
“And?”
“I kept comparing him to you.”
“Is that a good thing?”
“No.It’s terrible.”
He smiled slightly.“Still flattering.”
She finally turned to him.
“What do you want from me,Ethan?”
He didn’t hesitate.“You.”
“And what if I’m not that girl anymore?”
“Then I’ll fall for the woman you’ve become.”
Her heart stumbled.
He stepped closer.
No touching.
Just words.
“I didn’t come here to fix what’s broken.I came to build something better.From scratch.”
“I’m not ready.”
“Then I’ll wait.”
“I don’t trust easily anymore.”
“Then I’ll earn it every day.”
She stared at him.
Hating how much she still loved him.
Loving how he still made her feel.
Then finally—
She whispered,“Don’t leave tomorrow.”
And he didn’t.
- Writer
