Chapter Fifteen - The Response

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

The Response

IT CAME THROUGH as a voice message.

No typing bubble.
No warning.
Just the little speaker icon next to her name.

Play.

“Hey…”

pause.

“I didn’t know if I was gonna say anything.
I’ve been walking around all day trying to convince myself I didn’t care.
But the truth is I do.
I really, really do.”

deep breath.

“I read what you said.
And it felt like… I don’t know, like I finally heard you.
Not the you who jokes or flirts or makes everything feel lighter.
You.
The scared one. The real one.”

another pause, longer this time

“I needed that.”

soft laugh, almost a sigh

“I’m not saying I’m coming back tonight.
I’m still sitting with some stuff.
But I needed you to know I heard you.
All of it.”

voice steadier now

“And I’m not done.
With us.
With this.”

one more breath, smaller than the rest

“I love you.
Even when it hurts.
Maybe especially then.”

[End of message]

I sat there for a long time.

Didn’t cry.
Didn’t shout.
Just… breathed again.

Because the silence wasn’t silence anymore.

It was space.

And in that space, we were still speaking.