*Chapter 13: Aftermath*
219 Words
Here's Chapter 13:
Chapter 13: Aftermath
The silence between us was deafening.
I stood there, tears streaming down my face, as Elijah's eyes bore into mine.
His expression was a mix of hurt, frustration, and helplessness.
I couldn't blame him.
My words had cut deep.
Without a word, Elijah turned and left.
The door closed behind him with a soft click.
I collapsed onto the couch, overwhelmed.
Why had I lashed out?
Why couldn't I just talk to him?
The questions swirled in my mind as I cried myself into exhaustion.
Hours passed, or maybe it was minutes.
Time lost meaning.
Eventually, I drifted into a restless sleep.
---
The next morning:
I woke up to an empty apartment.
Elijah's side of the bed was untouched.
My heart sank.
Had he left for good?
I reached for my phone.
No messages.
No calls.
Just silence.
-----
I tried calling Elijah, but it went straight to voicemail.
Panic set in.
Had I pushed him too far?
I sent a text: "Elijah, I'm sorry."
No response.
Hours ticked by.
I paced the apartment, feeling restless.
Suddenly, the door opened.
Elijah walked in, his expression guarded.
"Hey," he said curtly.
"Hey," I replied, unsure what to expect.
Elijah dropped his bag and headed to the shower.
The silence between us was palpable.
- Writer
