(Clara)
I stood outside my apartment building long after Ethan drove away.
The taillights eventually disappeared around the corner, but I remained exactly where I was because moving meant accepting that the conversation had actually happened.
It meant accepting that Ethan had asked for space.
It meant accepting that for the first time since we met, I didn’t know where we stood.
The realization settled heavily in my chest.
I hated it, not because Ethan was wrong but he wasn’t.
That was the problem.
He was right……… completely right and somehow that made everything hurt more.
“Well, that’s concerning.”
I nearly jumped.
My head snapped toward the entrance of the building where Anna stood holding a grocery bag.
She looked from me to the empty road and then back to me.
Her expressio
