Chapter 7-The Choice
247 Words
Chapter Seven – The Choice
The rain hadn’t let up by morning, turning the cobbled streets into rippling mirrors. Claire sat in the café near her hotel, hands wrapped around a cup she’d barely sipped. She kept replaying Ethan’s words, each one tightening the knot in her chest.
When the door opened, he stepped in, drops of water tracing down his hair. He spotted her instantly and crossed the room.
“Claire,” he began, sitting opposite her, “I don’t want to leave things like this.”
She met his eyes, torn between wanting to cling to these days and guarding herself against the ache that was coming. “Then don’t leave,” she said, voice barely above a whisper.
He exhaled slowly. “It’s not that simple. This project—it’s a dream I’ve been chasing for years. But so are you.”
For a long moment, neither spoke. The rain tapped a restless rhythm on the windows.
Finally, Ethan slid his sketchbook toward her. He’d drawn the two of them again, but this time there was no bridge or café—just open sky, their hands reaching for each other.
“It’s your call,” he said quietly. “Do we end this here, or do we find a way to keep going—no matter how many cities are between us?”
Claire stared at the drawing, her heart pounding. She knew that whichever path she chose, nothing would ever be the same.
- Writer
