I knew Cameron hadn’t asked her to come. His apology to me said that much.
But what made her so desperate that she’d risk everything and come here?
The thought distracted me so much that I asked Robert if I could take a half-hour break. To my surprise, he said, “Okay.” Probably because he noticed how out of sorts I was.
I considered hiding again at Lina’s kiosk, but then I changed my mind. I wanted to be alone with my thoughts, so I decided to go to the glass balcony on the fifth floor.
While waiting for the elevator, someone nudged my arm. I glanced to the side and saw Gabriel standing there.
“Where are you headed?” he asked.
“To the glass balcony,” I answered flatly.
“Oh, you’re on a break?”
“Yeah,” I nodded.
“Want some company?” he offered. “My next surgery isn’t for two hours. I have time.”
I remembered his offer, just half an hour of his company, but I couldn’t be with him right now. I shook my head. “I need to be alone.”
“Oh, okay,” he said, sounding a bit let down. Maybe it was because I’d already agreed to that half hour, and now I was changing my mind.
“I’m sorry,” I added quietly.
The elevator doors opened, and I stepped inside. I gave him a small smile before they closed. He didn’t follow.
As I stood there, I wondered if I’d been too cold with him. It reminded me of how I’d treated Cameron over the years whenever my mood shifted—cold, harsh words that pushed him away. What I’d just said to Gabriel felt gentle compared to that.
Lately, I’d come to realize I’d grown so comfortable with Cameron that I stopped really considering his feelings. I always assumed he’d come back. Always thought he’d be there, smiling, whenever I was finally ready again.
Until he finally gave up.
And the fighting started.
Then he chose someone else.
The glass balcony already had a few people scattered around this time, each sitting alone, quietly staring ahead. I took my usual seat at the front, slouched down, stretched my legs out, and let my thoughts take over.
I wondered if Evie was warm to Cameron.
If she were open with him.
If she didn’t put him through endless tests like I did.
Was it easy for her to say how she felt? To make him feel wanted and seen, never forcing him to guess if she loved him?
Because with me, he always had to guess. Affection was a language I never quite learned to speak, and somehow, the wordsI love youwere too hard to say.
I bet she never made him second-guess everything.
Unlike me.
I once heard that some souls are meant to walk alone.
Maybe I’m one of them.
I sat there, thinking about everything, until my half-hour break was up. Just as I was about to stand, a message came in. It was from Lina.
