The Space Between Us
413 Words
The next few days felt different.
Ethan didn’t come to the café.
At first, Amara told herself he was just busy. Maybe work had caught up with him, or maybe he needed some space. But as each day passed without seeing him by the window, a quiet ache began to form inside her chest.
She missed his laugh.
His calm voice.
Even the way he’d glance at her like she was the only person in the room.
By the fifth day, the café felt empty no matter how many customers filled the seats. She tried to focus on her work, but every time the bell above the door rang, her heart jumped — only to sink again when it wasn’t him.
That evening, as she was locking up, she heard a familiar voice.
“Amara.”
She turned, and there he was — standing in the doorway, looking tired but relieved.
“You disappeared,” she said quietly, trying to sound casual though her heart was racing.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “Work’s been… complicated. I didn’t mean to vanish.”
Her eyes softened. “I was starting to think maybe you didn’t want to come back.”
He stepped closer, rain glistening in his hair. “That’s the thing,” he said softly. “I couldn’t stay away. I tried to focus, but every time I closed my eyes, I kept seeing this place — seeing you.”
Her breath caught.
“Ethan…” she whispered.
“I don’t know what this is, Amara,” he continued. “But it feels real. And that scares me more than I can admit.”
Amara’s heart thudded in her chest. She wanted to tell him she felt the same — that she’d spent days thinking of nothing but him. But fear tangled her words.
So she said the only thing she could. “You’re not the only one who’s scared.”
He looked at her, a flicker of relief in his eyes. “Then maybe,” he said softly, “we can be scared together.”
For a moment, neither moved. The air between them was heavy with everything unspoken.
Then Ethan smiled — small, genuine, and full of promise. “See you tomorrow?”
Amara nodded, her heart trembling. “See you tomorrow.”
As he left, she touched the window where he had stood moments ago. Outside, the rain had stopped, and for the first time, the sky looked clear.
- Writer
