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Imani paused on the bottom step, her heart pounding as she heard Jobe's voice. She took a deep breath and turned around to face him, noticing the eagerness in his eyes.
"Can we talk?" Jobe asked quietly, his tone pleading. He glanced around the room, ensuring that no one else was listening. Their mother and Jude were deep in conversation, and Jadon was distracted by his phone, giving them a moment of privacy.
Imani nodded, knowing that avoiding the conversation would only lead to the inevitable. "Come to my room," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. She turned and led the way up the stairs, Jobe following close behind.
Once inside her room, Imani closed the door softly and gestured for Jobe to sit down on the edge of her bed. She pulled over a chair from her desk and sat facing him, her hands clasped tightly in her lap.
For a few moments, neither of them spoke, the silence thick with unspoken words. Imani could feel the weight of what she was about to say, and it took all her strength to meet Jobe's gaze.
"Jobe," she began, her voice trembling slightly. "I know things have been strange between us lately. And I owe you an explanation."
Jobe nodded, his expression serious. "I just want to understand, Imani. I care about you, and I don't want to lose our friendship."
Imani took a deep breath, steeling herself for the conversation. "You mean a lot to me too, Jobe. But there are things that you don't know. Things that make it impossible for us to be together the way you might want."
She hesitated, struggling to find the right words. "It's Gio. What he put me through, the way he treated me—it's left me broken, Jobe. I'm still trying to put the pieces back together, and I need time to heal."
Jobe's face fell, his brow furrowing with concern. "Imani, I had no idea. I'm so sorry. I wish I could have been there for you."
Imani's eyes filled with tears, and she blinked them away, her voice breaking. "I know, Jobe. But it's not just about that. I need to focus on myself right now, to figure out who I am without anyone else's influence. I need to learn to love myself again before I can even think about being with someone else."
She reached out and took Jobe's hand, squeezing it tightly. "I never loved Gio like I've loved you, Jobe. You're different, special. But I'm not ready, and I don't want to hurt you while I'm trying to find myself."
Her voice broke as she spoke, tears spilling down her cheeks. "I love you so much, Jobe, that I can't bear the thought of dragging you down with me. You deserve so much better than what I can give you right now."
Jobe's expression softened, and he reached out to wipe a tear from her cheek. "Imani, I understand. I don't want you to feel pressured or rushed. You deserve to take the time you need."
Imani managed a small smile, grateful for his understanding. "We'll always be friends, Jobe. That's something I know for sure."
They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of their conversation settling between them. Finally, Jobe stood up, and Imani followed suit, walking him to the door.
As he turned to leave, Jobe paused and looked back at her. "Thank you for being honest with me, Imani. I'll always be here for you, no matter what."
Imani nodded, her heart aching but relieved that they were on good terms. "Thank you, Jobe. For everything."
As Jobe walked away, Imani closed the door softly, leaning against it as the tears she had held back finally began to fall. She knew she had done the right thing, but the pain of letting go was almost too much to bear.
A/N: bet this friendship won't last long. In a good way or a bad way? 🤷♀️
