Out of Pace
304 Words
The rest of the walk didn’t go the way I imagined.
Not even close.
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At first, I thought it wouldn’t matter.
Just one more person.
Just another conversation.
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But I was wrong.
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They talked like they had their own rhythm.
Fast. Effortless. Familiar.
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Jokes I didn’t fully get.
References I wasn’t part of.
Moments that didn’t need explaining between them.
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I tried to keep up.
I really did.
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But every time I thought I found a place to speak—
the moment passed.
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And just like that, I was back where I started.
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Watching.
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Only this time, it felt different.
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Because I didn’t want to be on the outside anymore.
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I noticed it.
The way he spoke to her.
The way she responded.
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It wasn’t something obvious.
Not something you could point at and say “there.”
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But it was there.
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And I could see it.
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He had something for her.
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Maybe not fully formed.
Maybe not spoken.
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But enough.
Enough for me to recognize it.
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And for the first time in a while—
I didn’t feel ahead.
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I felt… late.
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The walk felt longer than usual.
Not because of the distance—
but because of everything happening in my head.
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By the time we finally went our separate ways, I didn’t say much.
Didn’t need to.
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I had already seen enough.
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And as I walked the rest of the way alone—
one thought stayed with me.
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If I wanted her…
I couldn’t just observe anymore.
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Watching wasn’t going to be enough this time.
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I had to move.
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And whether I was ready or not—
that was something I couldn’t avoid anymore.
-l
- Writer
