I keep my head down when I pass Kaine in the hallway. It is impossible to avoid him entirely, but I keep our conversations as brief as I can. I speak only when necessary and only about work.
I don’t look at him unless I have to. I can tell h has noticed, but I have nothing to say to him. He’s made his choices and I’ve made mine.
In meetings, I make sure I sit at the far end of the table. I give him my reports as quickly as I can. If our hands brush when exchanging paperwork, I pull mine away before the contact can register. Kaine tries to carry on as normal, but I can tell he feels the strain. When it’s just the two of us, the silence is almost unbearable.
I can tell he feels, constantly clearing his throat and adjusting the papers in front of him. He’ll start to speak, only to trail o
