Chapter 6: Questions That Linger
680 Words
Camille stared at her phone long after John’s last message.
Then why did you answer my messages?
The question echoed inside her mind.
Because she didn’t know.
Or maybe she did.
And that was exactly what scared her.
Her thumb hovered over the keyboard, but no words came.
What could she possibly say?
That she was curious?
That seeing his name after five years had shaken something inside her?
That a part of her had always wondered why he disappeared without giving her an explanation?
None of those answers felt safe.
Finally, she locked her phone and tossed it onto the couch.
“No,” she whispered to herself.
She wasn’t doing this.
She wasn’t going to let the past destroy everything she had built.
A few minutes later, her phone rang.
The screen lit up with a familiar name.
Ethan.
Immediately, her tension eased.
She answered with a smile.
“Hey.”
“Hi, beautiful.”
The warmth in his voice made her chest soften.
“Long day?” he asked.
“You have no idea.”
Ethan laughed softly.
“Then I think you deserve dinner.”
Camille smiled.
“Dinner sounds perfect.”
“Good. I’ll pick you up in an hour.”
As they talked, Camille felt the anxiety slowly fade away.
This was real.
This was her life now.
Not the memories.
Not the heartbreak.
Not John.
After ending the call, she glanced toward her phone again.
There were no new messages.
For some reason, that disappointed her.
Camille immediately hated herself for feeling that way.
Why should she care?
John had hurt her.
Ethan loved her.
The choice should be easy.
Simple.
Yet her mind kept returning to one unanswered question.
What really happened five years ago?
A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.
An hour had passed faster than she realized.
When she opened the door, Ethan was standing there holding a small bouquet of white roses.
Camille laughed.
“Flowers?”
“You sound surprised.”
“I am.”
Ethan shrugged.
“I saw them and thought of you.”
Her heart melted.
Sometimes Ethan did things that were so effortlessly sweet.
No games.
No drama.
Just kindness.
He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
“Ready?”
Camille nodded.
“Ready.”
As they walked toward the elevator, Ethan slipped his hand into hers.
The simple gesture made her feel grounded.
Safe.
The restaurant was cozy and quiet.
The conversation flowed easily between them.
Work.
Travel plans.
Random stories.
Everything felt normal again.
Until Ethan suddenly asked a question.
“Something bothering you?”
Camille froze.
“What?”
“You seem distracted tonight.”
She forced a smile.
“I’m fine.”
Ethan studied her for a moment.
He knew her too well.
“You sure?”
For a second, Camille considered telling him everything.
About the messages.
About John.
About the confusion she couldn’t explain.
But she couldn’t.
Not yet.
So she nodded.
“I’m just tired.”
Ethan squeezed her hand.
“Then let’s get you home early.”
The guilt hit her immediately.
Because Ethan trusted her.
Completely.
And for the first time in two years, she was keeping something from him.
Later that night, after Ethan dropped her off, Camille stood alone in her apartment.
The silence felt heavier than usual.
Her phone rested on the kitchen counter.
Waiting.
She knew she shouldn’t check it.
She knew she should block John’s number and move on.
Instead, she picked up the phone.
One new message.
Her heartbeat quickened.
John: I didn’t mean to make things difficult for you.
John: I just wanted you to know that I never chose to leave.
Camille’s breath caught.
She read the message again.
And again.
Then a final message appeared.
John: One day, if you’re willing to listen, I’ll tell you everything.
For a long moment, she stared at the screen.
The answers she had wanted for five years were suddenly within reach.
And for the first time since John returned…
Camille wasn’t sure she wanted to walk away.
- Writer
