“SPACE BETWEEN US”

CHAPTER 13 — She Felt Herself Pull Away

The next morning arrived quietly, but Lia didn’t feel rested.

She woke with a heaviness she couldn’t shake — a quiet ache that settled somewhere between her ribs and her thoughts. She sat up slowly, staring at the faint sunlight creeping through her curtains.

Her notebook lay open on her desk, yesterday’s entry staring back at her:

“Maybe when you step forward, you leave something behind.”

She closed it gently.

She didn’t want to leave anything behind.

She didn’t want to lose anyone.

But something was shifting — inside her, around her — and she didn’t know how to stop it.

🌤️ A Morning That Felt Too Quiet

When she arrived at the research building, her group was already gathered around the table. Aria waved her over.

“Lia! We were just talking about the next project.”

Mateo grinned. “We’re thinking of tackling a more complex dataset this time.”

Daniel looked up, his smile warm. “Good morning.”

Lia returned the smile, though it felt smaller than usual. “Morning.”

They dove into planning — brainstorming ideas, sketching frameworks, assigning roles. Lia contributed, but her mind felt foggy, her thoughts scattered.

Daniel noticed.

“Are you okay?” he asked quietly.

She nodded. “Just tired.”

He didn’t push, but his eyes lingered on her a moment too long — gentle, concerned, searching.

And that made her chest tighten.

Because she wasn’t sure she wanted anyone searching right now.

📘 A Lunch That Felt Like Noise

Her group insisted on eating together again. They filled the cafeteria table with laughter, stories, and inside jokes that were slowly becoming familiar to her.

But today, Lia felt disconnected — like she was watching from the outside.

Aria nudged her. “You’re quiet.”

“Just thinking,” Lia said.

Mateo raised an eyebrow. “About the project?”

Lia hesitated. “About… everything.”

Daniel’s gaze softened. “If you need a break, we can slow down.”

She shook her head quickly. “No. I’m fine.”

But she wasn’t.

Because every time she tried to focus, her mind drifted back to last night —

To Evan’s quiet distance,

To the silence between them,

On the way, he walked away without looking back.

She didn’t know why it hurt.

She didn’t know why she cared so much.

She didn’t know why she felt like she had done something wrong.

🌆 A Message She Didn’t Know How to Answer

After lunch, her phone buzzed.

Her heart jumped — even before she looked.

Evan: Are you free later? I want to check on your progress.

Lia stared at the message, her emotions twisting.

Part of her wanted to say yes.

Part of her wanted to see him.

Part of her wanted to fix whatever had shifted between them.

But another part — the part that felt raw and unsettled — hesitated.

She typed slowly:

Lia: I have a lot to finish today. Maybe tomorrow.

There was a long pause.

Then:

Evan: Okay. Take your time.

The message was polite.

Neutral.

Distant.

And it hurt more than she expected.

🌫️ An Afternoon That Felt Like a Blur

She headed to the library, hoping the quiet would help her breathe. She found a corner table, opened her laptop, and tried to focus on the new project.

But her thoughts kept drifting.

To Evan’s message.

To the distance between them.

To the way her chest tightened every time she thought about it.

She didn’t want to feel this way.

She didn’t want to be confused.

She didn’t want her heart to complicate everything.

But feelings didn’t wait for permission.

They arrived uninvited, unannounced, unavoidable.

🌙 A Conversation She Wasn’t Ready For

She was reviewing her notes when someone sat across from her.

Daniel.

Her breath caught.

“You left quickly after lunch,” he said gently.

“I needed space,” she replied.

He nodded slowly. “You’ve been… different today.”

Lia looked down. “I’m just tired.”

“Is it the workload?” he asked. “Or something else?”

She hesitated — too long.

Daniel’s expression shifted, subtle but unmistakable.

“Is it about yesterday?” he asked softly.

Lia froze. “What do you mean?”

“The presentation,” he said. “The pressure. The attention. Everything.”

She exhaled slowly. “Maybe.”

He leaned forward slightly. “You don’t have to carry everything alone, Lia. You can talk to me.”

Her chest tightened.

Because he meant it.

Because he cared.

Because he was offering something she wasn’t sure she could accept.

“I know,” she whispered. “Thank you.”

But she didn’t say more.

And Daniel didn’t push.

But the silence between them felt heavy — not uncomfortable, but full of things neither of them dared to name.

🌌 A Moment She Didn’t Expect to Feel

They studied together for a while — quietly, comfortably. Daniel didn’t hover. He didn’t pry. He just stayed.

And somehow, that made the ache inside her soften.

When they finally packed up, Daniel walked her to the exit.

“Lia,” he said softly, “if you ever need anything… I’m here.”

She swallowed. “I know.”

He smiled — warm, steady, sincere.

And for the first time today, she felt something ease inside her.

But as she walked back to her dorm, her phone buzzed again.

Evan: Goodnight, Lia.

Just two words.

Simple.

Soft.

Careful.

But they hit her harder than she expected.

She typed back:

Lia: Goodnight.

Then stared at the screen long after the message sent.

Because she felt it —

the distance,

the confusion,

the quiet ache of wanting two different kinds of comfort.

And she didn’t know what to do with any of it.

📓 A Truth She Could No Longer Hide

Back in her room, Lia opened her notebook and wrote:

“Day 44. Today, I felt myself pulling away.

Not because I wanted to —

but because I didn’t know how to stay.”

She paused, then added:

“Maybe the heart doesn’t break all at once.

Maybe it cracks quietly,

In the spaces between what we say

And what we’re afraid to admit.”

She closed the notebook gently.

Tomorrow, she will face new challenges.

Tomorrow, she will keep learning.

Tomorrow, she will keep growing.

But tonight, she allowed herself to feel the truth she had been avoiding:

She was torn.

And she didn’t know how to choose.