The Distance Between Us
1235 Words
The following Saturday arrived wrapped in gray skies and fresh snow.
Amelia stood in front of the bathroom mirror, staring at her reflection.
Dark circles shadowed her eyes.
She hadn't slept much.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the silver wedding band wrapped around Adrian's finger.
"I'm married."
Just two words.
Honest.
Simple.
Devastating.
She splashed cold water on her face.
"You'll be fine," she whispered.
"It was just coffee."
It wasn't.
And that was the problem.
Crystal Ice Arena was already buzzing when Amelia clocked in.
Children raced through the lobby in oversized helmets while parents struggled to keep up.
The familiar sounds usually made her smile.
Today, they barely reached her.
"Morning."
Mia appeared beside her, carrying two cups of coffee.
"I brought your favorite."
Amelia accepted it gratefully.
"You look terrible."
"Thanks."
"I mean it lovingly."
"I know."
Mia studied her face for a long moment.
"What happened after coffee?"
Amelia busied herself arranging brochures.
"Nothing."
"Amelia."
"He..."
She stopped.
Mia waited patiently.
"He's married."
Silence.
"Oh."
Amelia nodded.
"I found out yesterday."
"I'm so sorry."
"I should've asked."
"Most people don't ask someone if they're married before grabbing coffee."
Amelia laughed bitterly.
"I guess I should start."
Mia reached over the counter and squeezed her hand.
"Are you okay?"
"I will be."
"You liked him."
"I barely knew him."
"But you liked him."
Amelia looked toward the empty rink.
"...Yeah."
More than I wanted to.
She made herself one promise before opening the admission's desk.
No more coffee.
No more conversations.
No more looking for him every weekend.
If Adrian came to the arena, she'd treat him exactly like every other customer.
Professional.
Polite.
Nothing more.
It was the only way to protect herself.
Around eleven o'clock, the lobby doors opened.
She didn't look up.
"One practice session, please."
She recognized the voice instantly.
Her fingers paused over the keyboard for only a second.
Then she continued typing.
"Twenty-five dollars."
There was a brief silence.
Then...
"No 'good morning' today?"
She finally lifted her eyes.
Adrian stood on the other side of the counter.
His smile wasn't as bright as usual.
"Good morning."
Her tone was polite.
Formal.
Distant.
He noticed immediately.
"I was starting to think you had the weekend off."
"I'm working."
"I can see that."
She printed his ticket.
"Locker twenty-three."
He didn't take it immediately.
Instead, he searched her face.
"Is everything okay?"
"I'm fine."
"You don't seem fine."
"I'm just tired."
He wasn't convinced.
She could tell.
But after a moment, he simply nodded.
"I hope your day gets better."
"Thank you."
She handed him his change.
"Our next customer, please."
The words stung both of them.
Adrian picked up his ticket.
For the first time since they'd met...
He walked away without another smile.
From behind the glass, Amelia watched him step onto the ice.
Usually, watching him skate made her forget everything else.
Today...
She forced herself to look away.
Every graceful movement reminded her of the truth.
He belonged to someone else.
Meanwhile, Adrian couldn't stop thinking about the woman behind the admissions counter.
He nearly fell during his warm-up.
His coach, Marcus Jensen, blew his whistle.
"Again."
Adrian tried the combination a second time.
Missed the landing.
Marcus frowned.
"You've landed that jump a thousand times."
"I know."
"Then what's wrong?"
"Nothing."
Marcus folded his arms.
"Don't lie to your coach."
Adrian sighed.
"I think I upset someone."
Marcus blinked.
"That's... oddly specific."
"There was this woman."
Marcus immediately smiled.
"Ah."
"It's not like that."
"It never is."
Adrian ignored him.
"We've been talking for a few weeks."
"And?"
"Yesterday she found out I'm married."
Marcus's smile disappeared.
"...That explains a lot."
"She won't even look at me today."
"What did you expect?"
"I wasn't trying to hide it."
"But you also didn't mention it."
Adrian rubbed the back of his neck.
"I know."
Marcus nodded thoughtfully.
"Give her space."
"I don't want her thinking I lied."
"You didn't lie."
"I also wasn't honest."
Marcus didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he watched Adrian skate another lap.
Finally, he spoke.
"Sometimes silence hurts more than lies."
The words stayed with Adrian for the rest of practice.
Lunch break.
Amelia escaped to the staff room with her sandwich.
She had barely taken one bite when Mia walked in.
"Guess who's looking for you."
Amelia froze.
"...Who?"
"You know exactly who."
"I'm busy."
"I told him that."
"And?"
"He asked if you'd at least take this."
Mia placed a small paper bag on the table.
Amelia frowned.
"What's that?"
"Apparently your favorite blueberry muffin."
She stared at it.
"I can't accept this."
"I figured you'd say that."
"So give it back."
Mia sighed.
"Fine."
She picked up the bag.
Before leaving, she turned around.
"You know..."
"What?"
"I don't think he's trying to flirt."
Amelia looked away.
"That almost makes it worse."
Adrian stood near the café entrance when Mia returned.
"I'm sorry."
He smiled politely.
"It's okay."
"She wouldn't take it."
"I understand."
"You really hurt her."
His expression fell.
"I never wanted to."
"I believe you."
"But intentions don't always matter."
He nodded slowly.
"No."
"They don't."
He accepted the paper bag.
For a moment, he considered throwing it away.
Instead...
He handed it to a little boy sitting nearby with his mother.
The child grinned.
"Really?"
"Really."
The little boy hugged the bag as if he'd won a prize.
Adrian smiled faintly.
At least someone would enjoy it.
By the time Amelia's shift ended, snow had begun falling again.
She wrapped her scarf around her neck and stepped outside.
She hadn't made it halfway across the parking lot when she heard footsteps behind her.
"Amelia."
She stopped.
Slowly turned around.
Adrian stood several feet away.
Far enough not to invade her space.
Close enough that she could hear him.
"I promise I'm not following you."
Despite herself, a tiny smile threatened to appear.
"It would be a very short chase."
He almost smiled too.
"I just wanted to apologize."
"You don't owe me one."
"I think I do."
She folded her arms.
"For what?"
"For making you feel like I wasn't being honest."
"You weren't."
"I know."
Silence stretched between them.
"I should've told you from the beginning."
"Yes."
"I wasn't trying to deceive you."
She believed him.
That was the frustrating part.
"I know."
He looked relieved.
"But..."
She continued quietly.
"...it doesn't change anything."
"No."
"It doesn't."
Another silence.
The cold wind carried snowflakes between them.
"I think..." Amelia said carefully, "...it's better if we keep things professional."
His jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.
"If that's what you want."
"It is."
Even as she said it, her heart protested.
Adrian nodded once.
"I'll respect that."
He didn't argue.
He didn't beg.
He didn't ask for another chance.
He simply stepped back.
"I hope you become an incredible accountant one day."
Her eyes widened.
He remembered.
Everything.
Every conversation.
Every dream she'd shared over coffee.
"Goodbye, Amelia."
He turned and walked toward his car.
She watched him leave until his taillights disappeared into the snowy evening.
Only then did she realize she'd been holding her breath.
She exhaled slowly.
Professional.
That was safer.
It had to be.
Because falling for a married man was a mistake she refused to make.
What neither of them knew was that fate had no intention of letting their story end in a snow-covered parking lot.
- Writer
