She waits for my response, the silence stretching between us once more.
Time seems to slow, each second dragging into the next.
And in that moment, I realize something.
We’re both trapped in this cycle, bound by a history that refuses to release us.
But maybe, just maybe, there’s a way forward.
It won’t be easy.
It never is.
But perhaps this is the first step.
Or perhaps it’s just another chapter in a story that’s yet to be told.
Either way, the choice is mine.
And whatever I decide, it will be on my terms.
Note: This story is a work of fiction inspired by real events. Names, characters, and details have been altered.
