He cares differently
566 Words
There are moments when people hide from their anxiety and anger instead of facing them. But when the past returns—even in fragments—it hurts in ways we cannot control.
Caitlin was living exactly that.
Ever since she saw the gun in Raffelo’s car, she wasn’t herself. Her mind was restless, her body tense, and sleep had become something she feared.
Because every time she closed her eyes—
The past returned.
⸻
Alisa knocked softly and entered her room with a tray.
ALISA
“Eat your dinner… and take your anxiety pills.”
She sat beside Caitlin and fed her gently, like she had done before in difficult times.
ALISA (softly)
“Please… let yourself sleep.”
Within fifteen minutes, Caitlin drifted off.
⸻
Darkness.
Then—
A gunshot.
She stood there, frozen, watching the scene unfold.
Her mother… holding a gun.
Her father… collapsing.
CAITLIN (screaming)
“Dad! Dad, are you fine?! Mom—why did you do this?!”
Her mother dragged her away, but Caitlin struggled, reaching for her father.
She broke free, held his hand, kissed his forehead.
CAITLIN (crying)
“Don’t leave me…”
FATHER (weakly)
“You’ll be okay… my hero.”
She ran to the phone.
CAITLIN
“Hel—”
A sharp hit.
Darkness.
⸻
Caitlin woke up, breathing heavily.
Twelve years old.
That was when she lost him.
And after that—
Three years in a coma.
⸻
Her phone rang.
Raffelo.
RAFFELO
“Hey, what are you doing?”
CAITLIN (tired)
“Not the right time to talk.”
RAFFELO
“I can call you anytime. I’m your boss.”
CAITLIN
“Okay… what happened?”
RAFFELO (softly)
“I miss you.”
CAITLIN
“I’m not in the mood. Can we talk tomorrow?”
She hung up.
She sat down, trying to calm herself with breathing exercises.
⸻
The doorbell rang.
Raffelo.
CAITLIN
“Why are you here?”
RAFFELO
“Why did you disconnect my call?”
CAITLIN
“Because I’m not okay.”
RAFFELO
“Then tell me what happened.”
She resisted at first.
Then… she told him everything.
About the gun.
About her father.
About her fear.
⸻
Raffelo listened carefully.
RAFFELO
“My gun is licensed. I only use it for sport shooting.”
CAITLIN
“You’ve never hurt anyone… right?”
He paused.
RAFFELO
“Never.”
⸻
A silence followed.
Heavy, but honest.
⸻
Then—
The tension shifted.
Not emotional now—
Something deeper.
Something unspoken.
Raffelo stepped closer.
His voice lowered.
RAFFELO (whispering)
“If I wanted to make you forget everything for a moment…”
He didn’t finish.
Caitlin didn’t stop him.
Instead—
She closed her eyes.
He moved closer.
Their breaths collided.
The moment turned intense.
His hand brushed her arm—
Then slowly moved—
…
Her body reacted instantly.
Her thoughts blurred.
Everything she was feeling—fear, pain, anger—
Started dissolving into something else.
Something consuming.
CAITLIN (softly)
“Raffelo…”
He leaned closer—
…
The world disappeared for a moment.
Only sensation.
Only closeness.
Only them.
⸻
And then—
He stopped.
Stepped back.
Leaving her breathless.
⸻
Caitlin opened her eyes slowly.
Confused.
Overwhelmed.
Still feeling everything.
He looked at her—calm, controlled again.
As if nothing had happened.
⸻
And that was the problem.
He always stopped.
And she never could.
- Writer
