Too Close To Walk Away.
716 Words
Mira woke up earlier than usual the next morning.
For a few seconds, she just stared at the ceiling, trying to remember why her chest felt so tight.
Then she remembered.
Last night.
The argument.
Ethan.
She turned slightly on the couch where she had fallen asleep. The living room was quiet now, the early morning light slipping through the curtains.
For a moment, everything felt strangely peaceful.
Until she heard footsteps.
Ethan walked into the kitchen, already dressed, holding a mug of coffee. His hair was still messy like he had just run his hand through it a dozen times.
When he noticed her awake, he paused.
“Morning,” he said.
Mira sat up slowly.
“Morning.”
The silence between them felt awkward now. Different from the heated tension of last night.
More uncertain.
Ethan leaned against the kitchen counter.
“You sleep okay?”
“Yeah,” she said.
A lie.
She had spent half the night replaying their conversation in her head.
Especially the part where he said loving her felt like a war.
Ethan took another sip of his coffee.
“I have to go out later,” he said casually.
“Oh.”
The word slipped out before she could stop it.
Ethan noticed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“You look like someone just cancelled your birthday.”
Mira rolled her eyes.
“Relax. I’m not that invested in your schedule.”
Ethan smirked slightly.
“Sure.”
She stood up, stretching slightly.
“So where are you going?” she asked, trying to sound casual.
“Meeting someone.”
That answer immediately made her suspicious.
“Who?”
“Why do you care?”
“I don’t.”
“Right.”
Ethan grabbed his jacket from the chair.
“Her name’s Chloe.”
Something inside Mira’s chest tightened.
She hated that it did.
“Oh,” she said again.
Ethan studied her face carefully.
“She’s just a friend.”
Mira shrugged.
“Good for you.”
But the words didn’t sound convincing.
Ethan tilted his head slightly.
“You jealous?”
Mira laughed.
“Please.”
But the sound came out a little forced.
Ethan pushed himself away from the counter and walked closer.
“Because it kinda sounds like jealousy.”
“It kinda sounds like you’re full of yourself.”
He stopped a few steps away from her.
The air between them suddenly felt heavier again.
“You know,” he said quietly, “most people would just admit it.”
“Admit what?”
“That they don’t like the idea of someone else being around me.”
Mira crossed her arms.
“You’re unbelievable.”
“And yet you’re still here.”
That line again.
She hated how easily he could trap her with it.
“Don’t flatter yourself,” she muttered.
Ethan chuckled.
But something softer flickered in his eyes.
Almost like he liked seeing her jealous.
Which only annoyed her more.
“Fine,” she said suddenly.
“What?”
“Go see Chloe.”
“I was already planning to.”
“Good.”
She grabbed a glass from the kitchen and filled it with water.
Ethan watched her for a moment.
“You’re really bad at pretending you don’t care.”
She froze slightly.
“Goodbye, Ethan.”
He laughed under his breath and headed for the door.
But before leaving, he paused.
“You know what your problem is?”
She groaned.
“Please don’t start again.”
“You care way more than you want to admit.”
Mira turned around slowly.
“And you like provoking me way more than a normal person should.”
Ethan smiled.
“Maybe.”
He opened the door.
“But it’s fun.”
Then he left.
The apartment felt too quiet without him.
Mira stood in the kitchen for a long moment, staring at the door.
Her chest felt tight again.
“Chloe,” she muttered under her breath.
She didn’t even know this girl.
And yet the thought of Ethan spending time with her made something uncomfortable twist inside her stomach.
Which was ridiculous.
Because she didn’t care.
Right?
Right.
Except the more she thought about it… the less convincing that answer felt.
- Writer
