Chris
I sat alone in my apartment, the soft hum of the refrigerator the only sound breaking the silence. Shayla's words kept replaying in my mind, each repetition stirring a mix of emotions within me. She wanted to date others, to explore her options and figure out who she was after her divorce. It stung, more than I cared to admit, but I had to remember that she had just come out of a nine-year marriage. It made sense that she wouldn't want to be tied down again so soon.
I glanced around the room, my eyes settling on a picture of us from a few weeks ago, taken during a hike. We were both smiling, the sun setting behind us, casting a golden glow over everything. I had been so happy then, thinking that we were moving toward something more serious. But now, things felt uncertain.
"Chris, I care about you a lot, and I love the time we spend together. But after everything that's happened with Terrance and the divorce, I feel like I need some time to find myself again."
