chapter 2:*Gold*
346 Words
Maya, told herself Chapter 1 was a fluke.
Elias, was just scared. Scared people did scared things. He’d said sorry three times that night. He’d cooked her favorite pasta. He’d held her until 4am without asking for anything.
“See?” he whispered into her hair. “I’m not him. I’m not going to leave.”
She believed him. Because when Elias was soft, he was the whole world.
The problem was when he was scared.
*Week 2*
She got the email. Design school in Atlanta. Portfolio review. One shot.
She told Elias over dinner. He went still. Fork mid-air.
“That’s… far,” he said.
“It’s two years, Elias. It’s my dream.”
“What if you meet someone there?” His voice was flat. Not angry. Terrified.
“I won’t,” she said, reaching for his hand.
“You said you wouldn’t leave before,” he said. Then he caught himself. “I’m sorry. I’m proud of you. I’m just… I don’t sleep when you’re not next to me.”
He didn’t say don’t go. He said, _Stay, and I’ll break._
*Week 3*
Layla dragged her out. One drink. Loud music. Breathing room.
Maya’s phone lit up on the table. 9 missed calls.
_Where are you?_
_Are you safe?_
_Come home. Now._
She left early.
Elias was on her couch in the dark. Roses on the table. Not romantic. Heavy.
“You had fun,” he said.
“I had one drink,” she said.
“You had fun without me.”
He stood up. Pulled her in. Forehead to hers. His hands were shaking.
“I hate this,” he admitted. “I hate needing you so much it hurts. But Maya, you’re my gold. You fill every crack I have.”
She wanted to say _That’s too much weight for one person._
She said, “Okay,” instead.
Because the boy who stayed when her mom left was crying in her kitchen.
Because love, even cracked, felt better than being alone again.
She didn’t send the Atlanta acceptance reply that night.
- Writer
