Eli's words linger in the air like a fog I can't quite shake off. I stand frozen, trying to make sense of the whirlwind of emotions crashing through me. "I love you." He said it so simply, but it feels like the heaviest thing anyone has ever said to me.
It's almost too much. Too soon. Too late. I don't even know anymore.
"I—" I start, my voice shaky, but I can't seem to find the right words.
I turn away from him, pacing the room like I'm trying to escape from this overwhelming reality. He loves me? After everything with Olivia? After he kept me in the dark for so long? It doesn't add up. It feels like a cruel joke I should have known was coming, but somehow I didn't.
I keep walking, back and forth, needing to move, needing to think.
And then it hits me. I stop mid-step, eyes wide with realization.
I'm scared. I'm scared of feeling too much and getting hurt. I'm scared of opening up to someone who might walk away when it gets hard. I'm scared that I'll mess everything up if I let myself care too much.
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding, and when I turn back around, Eli's still there, his face soft but full of uncertainty.
I hate that look. I hate that he's not sure of me.
"You can't just say you love me and expect me to forget everything else," I say, my words coming out sharper than I intend.
Eli flinches. "I know. I should've told you sooner. I shouldn't have let this go on so long."
"No kidding," I mutter under my breath, but my heart softens just a little. He's not perfect, and I'm not either, but this whole mess doesn't feel as impossible as it did earlier.
"What can I do, Avery?" Eli's voice cracks, almost pleading. "Tell me how to fix this."
Fix this? How can I tell him to fix something that feels completely broken? It's not just about Olivia or the lies or the timing. It's about me—about how I built these walls around myself, never really letting anyone close enough to knock them down.
It's about me trying to control everything, trying to keep my emotions locked up because if I let myself feel, I might lose control. And if I lose control, I'll lose him too.
"I don't know, Eli. I just don't know what I'm supposed to believe anymore." I finally drop my shoulders, feeling exhausted. "It's like we're two different people. You're one person with Olivia, and you're another with me. I don't know who you really are."
Eli's face falls, and I swear, for the first time, I see the vulnerability in his eyes. The truth of it all hits me like a ton of bricks.
"I'm just me," he says, his voice small. "And I messed up. I should've been honest with you from the start. You deserved better."
I stand there, feeling the weight of the silence between us. It's not just about forgiveness anymore. It's about figuring out how to take what's left and build something new. Maybe something stronger.
But I'm not ready to forgive him yet. I'm not ready to make things easy for him. Not after everything.
"I need time," I say, finally finding my voice again. "I need to figure out what I want."
Eli nods slowly, his gaze never leaving mine. "I'll wait. I'll do whatever it takes. Just... don't shut me out."
It's the hardest thing I've ever had to do, but I look at him, my heart aching, and say, "I can't promise anything. But I won't shut you out. Not yet."
His expression softens, like he's hearing the words that are buried beneath my hesitation. It's not a yes, but it's not a no, either.
"I'll be here," he says quietly.
I nod, feeling the weight of his words settle into the pit of my stomach. I can't keep going in circles with him. We both need space to figure out what this is—and whether it can even work.
As I turn to leave, I hear him call my name.
"Avery."
I pause at the door, looking back at him. "Yeah?"
"I'm not giving up on us," he says, his voice steady. "Not this time."
I don't answer him right away. Instead, I take a deep breath and walk out, feeling a little lighter—but still unsure of what comes next.
---
I don't know what I expected when I walked away, but as I stand in the hallway of Eli's apartment building, I feel like something inside me shifted. It's like the walls that were holding me up—keeping me safe from everything—are starting to crumble.
But I still don't know if I'm ready to let them fall.
I don't know if I'm ready to fall for Eli all over again.
---
The next morning, my phone buzzes with a text. It's from Eli.
"Can we talk later? Please."
And suddenly, I'm back to square one—staring at my phone like it might bite me if I don't respond.
But this time, I don't feel scared. I don't feel angry. I feel like the walls I've been hiding behind are starting to crack, and maybe, just maybe, it's time to face what's on the other side.
I take a deep breath and type out my reply.
"Okay. Later."
It's not much, but it's enough. It's a step. And that's all I need right now.
What will happen when Eli and Avery finally talk? Can they fix what's broken between them? The clock is ticking, and time is running out. The stakes are higher than ever before.