“That’s all the time we have,” he retorted, not meeting my eyes. “I need to know if I have to quit my job.” “But you’re not leaving for months!" I was practically yelling now, my voice steeped in incredulity. “Why do we have to decide this right now?” “Because I need to be prepared to give the h
Enzo The weight of yesterday’s ultimatum was a stone in my gut as I walked into the tunnels. I kept seeing Nina's face, that look of shock and betrayal, like I had ripped the ground from beneath her. I didn’t want to do it. God, I hated myself for it, but it was a wall I couldn’t see past, a lin
“Enzo, stop!” Matt’s voice broke through my red haze, pulling me back to reality. I turned, meeting Matt’s eyes, the gravity of what I was about to do hitting me all at once. My hand loosened, my breaths coming out in ragged gulps. He pulled me aside, his grip firm on my arm. I glanced back at t
Nina The ache of Enzo’s ultimatum sat like a knot in my stomach, tightening every time I replayed our last conversation. It was as if a chasm had opened between us, one that neither of us knew how to bridge. We had spent the night on opposite sides of the bed, each of us too angry to move closer t
Maybe they were right. Maybe Enzo was right. But I still couldn’t be satisfied just yet, especially not after how he had left this morning. He had just walked out, telling me he was headed to campus, without even a kiss. The door had slammed in his wake, and I was left feeling even angrier than befo
Nina The air was crisp and cool, the perfect early summer evening, as I stepped onto the campus. Most of the students had left for the summer already aside from the few who remained during the off season, leaving the campus empty and quiet. But I didn’t mind. It was nice sometimes to feel like I h
Countless practices, games, and scrimmages had been spent running around like this, checking on injuries, and so I was prepared. But not for this. I slipped as I ran up to him, falling to my knees by his side. “Enzo! Are you okay?” He was pushing himself up when I reached him, his hand coming aw
Could it be that he was struggling just as much as I was all along but he was just too afraid to show it? I clenched my hands, my nails digging into the flesh of my palms. Why hadn’t I seen it before? Why had I assumed that I was the only one affected, the only one who needed support? As I stare