Instead of saying
563 Words
Raffelo looked at Caitlin.
There were a thousand things he wanted to say.
Whenever I see you, I want to hold you and never let you go. When I see you with someone else, I want to pull you away. When we’re alone… I lose control. I don’t just feel attraction—I feel something deeper. I want you. I want us.
But instead—
RAFFELO
“I’m your boss. You don’t have the right to question me.”
The words came out cold.
Controlled.
Safe.
---
Caitlin stood still.
Her heart said something else entirely.
I want to be close to you. I want to understand you. Every time you come near me, I forget everything. I want to stay… I want to feel you… I don’t want this distance.
But instead—
CAITLIN
“Okay. You don’t have to answer me.”
Her voice was calm.
Too calm.
She turned and walked away.
---
EVENING
Raffelo sat in his car, on a call.
Caitlin was walking toward home when she noticed him.
She slowed down.
Without meaning to—
She heard him.
RAFFELO (on phone, loudly)
“Yes, baby… I’m coming. We’ll go for a drive. And wear that red backless dress I gave you… be ready by 7:30. Barcelona Bar.”
Caitlin froze.
Her expression changed instantly.
She turned and walked away.
---
A moment later—
Raffelo lowered his voice.
RAFFELO
“Sorry… I had to do that.”
The voice on the other end—
His therapist.
THERAPIST
“Are you serious about her?”
Raffelo leaned back in his seat.
RAFFELO
“I don’t know… but she makes me lose control.”
THERAPIST
“You’ve been with many women… but you’ve never done something like this before.”
A pause.
RAFFELO (quietly)
“There’s something about her. I can’t walk away.”
THERAPIST
“You’re afraid. Because of your past. Because of your parents.”
Silence.
THERAPIST (softly)
“You don’t have to live in the dark forever.”
RAFFELO
“You remember what I told you?”
THERAPIST
“Yes. And I also know you hide behind control. But I see through you.”
Raffelo exhaled.
RAFFELO
“Why don’t you come back? Start your life again.”
THERAPIST
“You know my situation. It’s not that simple.”
A pause.
THERAPIST
“Thank you… for protecting me all this time. I just want you to be happy.”
The call ended.
---
AT HOME — CAITLIN
Caitlin slammed the door behind her.
Her cousin wasn’t home.
The silence felt loud.
She threw her bag aside and started pacing.
CAITLIN (to herself)
“What does he think of himself?”
Her voice rose with every word.
CAITLIN
“Yesterday he was here… with me. And today—‘baby’? Seriously?”
She laughed bitterly.
CAITLIN
“He never called me that.”
Her jealousy burned.
CAITLIN
“I hate him.”
A pause.
Then—
CAITLIN (muttering)
“Backless red dress… wow. Of course. That’s his type, right?”
She crossed her arms, annoyed.
CAITLIN
“Perfect girl. Perfect body. Perfect image.”
She stopped.
Thinking.
Then—
A decision.
Her eyes sharpened.
CAITLIN
“Fine.”
A slow smile appeared.
CAITLIN
“Let’s see… who she is.”
---
Because sometimes—
Jealousy doesn’t push you away.
It pulls you closer.
Straight into the truth.
- Writer
