Warm

5

I've managed to keep my distance from Keanu and Laura.

Only speaking when needed and leaving right when my shift ends. Keanu tries to joke with me or bring me food. But I pay no attention to him unless I need his signature for something. Laura also continues as if nothing happened. She tells me the gossip in the office and gives me make-up tips. All I do is nod. There's comfort in continuing this way. It's the way it's always been and I don't know what could've stirred me up.

"That's nice," Keanu says. I look up from the paperwork to find Laura introducing her fiance, Edward. He's exactly how I imagined him: plaid t-shirt, big-rimmed glasses, and sneakers. They radiate happiness as they smile and steal glances at each other. Laura's fiance looked at her as if she had created the whole universe.

A grin tugs on my lips after seeing Laura gush over her fiance. And for the first time in months, I speak without thinking. "I'm happy Laura is in love. It doesn't happen to everyone." Feeling Keanu's gaze is becoming a 7th sense. "What?" I ask.

"What did you mean by that?"

I shrug. "Love isn't for everyone. Some people never give or receive love. It just happens." I'm not sure why he was making a big deal about it. But he was.

He stays quiet for a bit. "You accept the love you think you deserve." We look up at each other as he says, "And you, Aurora, are very deserving of the best love."

Whenever someone has ever tried to say anything kind to me, I would deflect it with a rude comment. But how could I do that when he still looks at me like that after literal months of being cold?

When he looks at me the way Laura's fiance looked at her?

The day has quickly turned into late night and I only notice because I look up from the papers for a second.

"Aurora, let's go," Keanu tells me. The desks around me are empty and the lights are dimmed.

"No, you go ahead." I'd rather stay here than go home.

"It's really late already."

"Then go. I can stay up a bit more."

He reaches the doors when he stops abruptly. He turns around and walks back to my desk. "Is everything okay?"

Those words alone make me want to tell him everything. I want to spill the things that are eating away at my heart. But I know better.

"Yes. Leave."

"No, it's not. You never speak to anyone and you don't even look up from these papers. Ever since you fell-"

"Keanu, I've always been like this. Before you met me, I was always like this." I know the weight of my words when I say, "I was only talking to you to get you on our team and that was it."

Yet again, I made the mistake of thinking harsh words could push him away because instead of leaving, a small smile appears on his face. "You know, I'd believe you if you believed it yourself." Keanu sighs heavily. "Well I'm going to my office for a bit. I'll be down the street if you need me."

His footsteps echo as he leaves. Now, it's just my thoughts and I in this huge empty office.

How can Keanu see through me so easily? And he's noticed my behavior since I fell, so he knows I don't want to talk to him. Then why does he keep saying words like that? Why do they keep making me think about him?

I exhale in hopes that it will alleviate the heaviness in my chest. It's not really effective.

Keanu's words stick in my head and I have to reread the same paragraph multiple times. I can't get any work done like this. I guess I will leave after all.