The Distance between us

Episode six: A question without an answer

Chloe waited until she returned to her apartment before calling Daniel.

She had spent the entire journey home rehearsing what she wanted to say. She would remain calm, ask him about Daniel Carter, and give him the opportunity to explain.

She refused to believe that a single strange conversation could destroy two years of trust.

When Daniel answered, his face appeared on the screen, and the familiar warmth in his eyes almost made her forget her questions.

"There's my beautiful girl," he said. "I've been waiting for you to call."

Chloe managed a smile.

"How was your day?"

"Busy. Yours?"

"Interesting."

Daniel raised an eyebrow. "Interesting good or interesting bad?"

"Somewhere in between."

He laughed softly, but Chloe noticed that his smile didn't quite reach his eyes.

She took a breath.

"Daniel, do you know someone called Daniel Carter?"

His expression changed.

It was brief, almost invisible, but she saw it.

"Why are you asking?"

"He's one of the directors at my company."

"I know."

Chloe sat straighter.

"You know?"

Daniel looked away from the camera.

"I mean, I've heard of him."

"From where?"

"Chloe, why are we suddenly talking about this man?"

"Because he told me he knows you."

Silence.

She waited.

"He said I should ask you what happened three years ago."

Daniel's jaw tightened.

"Did he?"

"Yes. And now I'm asking you."

Daniel stood up and walked away from the camera. For several seconds, Chloe could see only the wall behind him.

"Baby, some things happened before you came into my life," he finally said. "Things that have nothing to do with you."

"Then why does he think I need to know?"

"Because he wants to cause trouble."

"Why would he want to cause trouble between us?"

Daniel returned to the screen.

"Because that's the kind of person he is."

Chloe studied his face.

She wanted to believe him. She wanted him to reach through the screen, hold her close, and reassure her that everything was fine.

But reassurance without an explanation felt like a door being gently closed in her face.

"Daniel, I'm not asking you to tell me every detail of your past," she said quietly. "I'm asking you not to make me feel foolish for wanting to understand something that concerns the person I love."

His expression softened.

"You're not foolish."

"Then tell me the truth."

He opened his mouth, but no words came.

That silence hurt more than an argument would have.

Chloe blinked back tears.

"All right," she whispered.

"Chloe, don't do that."

"Do what?"

"Shut me out."

She gave a small, disbelieving laugh.

"I'm shutting you out? Daniel, I'm asking you to let me in."

He rubbed his forehead.

"I just need time."

"How much time?"

"I don't know."

She looked down at her hands.

The distance between them suddenly felt enormous.

Before leaving Nigeria, she had believed that their love was strong enough to withstand anything. She had imagined difficult days, lonely nights, and missed calls, but she had never imagined that the greatest obstacle might be something Daniel was unwilling to tell her.

"I have to go," she said.

"Chloe, please."

"I need to think."

She ended the call before he could respond.

For several minutes, she sat on the edge of her bed, trying to steady her breathing.

Then she opened their photographs and looked at the man who had promised never to let distance change their love.

She wondered whether he understood that secrets could create a distance no plane could cross.

Across the city, Daniel Hayes stared at his dark phone screen.

He had wanted to protect Chloe from the truth.

Instead, he had given her a reason to doubt him.

His phone rang.

Daniel Carter.

This time, he answered.

"What do you want?" Daniel demanded.

Carter's voice was calm.

"To give you one last chance to tell her yourself."

"Stay away from Chloe."

"I would be happy to. But first, she deserves to know why you left my sister standing at the altar."

Daniel froze.

For three years, he had avoided remembering that day.

Now, thousands of miles away from the woman he loved, he realized that his past had finally caught up with him.

And this time, he might not be able to outrun it.