The distance between us

Chapter One: The Walls Amara Built Amara Vale did not wake up one day and decided to shut the world out. It happened slowly. After her mother died, people spoke in whispers around her. They watched her too closely, like grief was contagious. Teachers were kinder than necessary. Friends asked questions they didn’t really want answers to. “How are you holding up?” “Are you okay?” “Do you want to talk?” Amara learned that talking only made things worse. Words opened wounds. Silence kept them closed. So she stopped explaining. Stopped smiling. Stopped letting people in. She found safety behind the school hall, where no one asked her to be brave. There, she wrote letters to her mother—letters filled with anger, guilt, longing, and love. It was the only place where her grief didn’t feel judged. That space was hers. And she guarded it fiercely. So when Ethan Cole wandered too close one afternoon, something sharp rose in her chest. “Can you not?” she snapped without looking up. Ethan stopped mid-step. “Sorry?” “This place,” she said, standing. “It’s occupied.” He glanced around. “I didn’t know—” “Now you do.” Her voice was cold, final. Ethan nodded once and walked away. Amara sat back down, heart racing—not because she was rude, but because for a split second, she had almost seen kindness in his eyes. And kindness scared her more than cruelty ever could. --- Chapter Two: The boy behind the noise. Ethan Cole was used to being liked. People laughed at his jokes. Teachers praised his leadership. Coaches relied on him. Girls smiled at him like he was something to be won. No one asked how he was actually doing. After practice, Jayden tossed him a towel. “You good?” “Always,” Ethan replied automatically. Jayden studied him. “That’s not an answer.” Ethan shrugged. “It’s the only one I’ve got.” Home was quiet in the wrong way. No arguments. No warmth. Just absence. His father’s absence sat in every corner, unspoken but heavy. Being admired was easier than being known. That’s why the girl behind the hall bothered him. She hadn’t looked impressed. She hadn’t looked interested. She hadn’t looked at him like he mattered at all. And somehow, that stayed with him. --- Chapter Three: Collision They were paired for a group assignment. Amara stared at the list, jaw tightening. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” she muttered. Ethan heard her. “That's bad, huh?” “Yes.” Jayden leaned over. “Relax, Amara. He’s not contagious.” She shot Jayden a look. “You talk too much.” Jayden grinned. “Fair.” Ethan cleared his throat. “Look, we don’t have to talk more than necessary.” “That’s the first smart thing you’ve said,” Amara replied. They worked in stiff silence. Every word was clipped. Every interaction felt like walking on broken glass. “You skipped question three,” Ethan said quietly. “I didn’t ask for help.” “I’m not helping. I’m correcting.” She slammed her pen down. “Do you enjoy acting superior?” He stiffened. “Do you enjoy assuming the worst in people?” Her voice dropped. “I don’t assume. I learn.” The room went quiet. For the first time, Ethan realized her anger wasn’t about him. And Amara realized she hated that he noticed. --- Chapter Four: Cracks, Not Openings Weeks passed. Their arguments became less sharp—but no warmer. Sometimes Ethan sat nearby without speaking. Sometimes Amara tolerated it. Other times she walked away. “You don’t like him,” Lena said gently. “I don’t trust him,” Amara corrected. Lena hesitated. “That’s not the same thing.” “It is when trusting people gets them taken away.” Lena went quiet. One afternoon, rain trapped them behind the hall. Amara stared at the ground. Ethan leaned against the wall. “You don’t have to talk,” he said. “I wasn’t planning to.” Minutes passed. “My dad left,” Ethan said suddenly. Amara froze. “I didn’t ask.” “I know,” he replied. “I just wanted you to know I’m not pretending to be okay.” She swallowed hard. “That doesn’t make us the same.” “No,” he agreed softly. “But it makes us human.” She didn’t respond. But she didn’t leave either. --- Chapter Five: Almost Trust The change was so slow it scared her. She stopped flinching when he spoke. Stopped snapping at every comment. Sometimes—even laughed. That terrified her. Because liking Ethan meant opening a door she had sealed after her mother died. “You’re different from him,” Lena said. Amara’s voice shook. “Don’t say that.” “Amara—” “I said don’t.” Across the field, Jayden watched Ethan smile for real for once. “You’re in trouble,” Jayden said. Ethan nodded. “I know.” --- Chapter Six: The Fallout The rumour spread fast. Amara was leaving. Starting over. Running away. Ethan heard it from someone who didn’t even know her. Fear took over. He didn’t ask. Didn’t confirm. Didn’t trust. He pulled back completely. No more sitting near her. No more quiet conversations. Nothing. Amara felt it immediately. She waited. Then waited more. Finally— “Did I do something wrong?” she asked, voice barely holding. Ethan looked past her. “This was a mistake.” Her chest shattered. “What?” “I shouldn’t have let this happen.” Her eyes filled. “You know I don’t survive being abandoned.” He said nothing. That silence destroyed her. She went home and tore up every letter she had written since meeting him. And this time, she didn’t cry. She broke. --- Chapter Seven: Devastation Weeks passed. Amara shut down completely. Lena couldn’t reach her. Teachers worried. Ethan watched from a distance, guilt consuming him. Jayden snapped. “You destroyed her.” “I was trying to protect myself.” Jayden’s voice rose. “From what? Being loved?” Ethan didn’t answer. Because the truth was— He had been loved. And he had run. --- Chapter Eight: Rock Bottom Amara stood under the old tree one last time. “I won’t do this again,” she whispered. “I won’t let anyone close enough to leave ". Ethan found her there Too late Or it seemed.