Maria's Point of View
The silence between us was heavy, a tense fog that made the air thick and hard to breathe. As he turned slowly towards me, I could see the strain in his body and hear it in his tight voice as he asked, "What's going on?"
My hands shook as I stepped back, my eyes darting around trying to find the right words. But they were elusive, slipping through my fingers like sand. "This...this is so difficult for me," I stammered, struggling to articulate my thoughts. "You just show up now...it's all so confusing."
For a brief moment, his eyes softened before the shields went back up, hiding any vulnerability. "I know it's late, Mary. But I'm trying." His words were honest and sincere, tugging at my heart, but I couldn't let myself be swayed by them. It was easier when he was
