The Space Between Us

Heart to Heart

The restless night didn't do me any favors, my mind kept replaying the brief encounter with Rebecca, dissecting every word and every look I tossed and turned in my bed, wondering what she really wanted from me

Why now, after all this time? I thought I had buried those feelings, moved on with my life but seeing her again had opened old wounds, and I couldn't deny the flutter in my chest when our eyes met

Was I still holding onto something? Or was it just the past trying to pull me back in?

By morning, I felt like I'd run a marathon in my mind, my thoughts were scattered, and I needed someone to talk to, someone who would understand without judgment

Mia. She had always been there for me, no matter what, and after last night's date, I knew she would be the right person to help me sort through the mess in my head

I grabbed my phone and typed out a quick message

Can we talk?

Her reply came almost instantly

Of course. My place?

An hour later, I was standing outside her apartment door, feeling more anxious than I had expected I didn't know why I was so nervous. It was Mia, after all

We'd shared everything intimate moments, deep conversations, even our vulnerabilities, and yet, today felt different I wasn't sure if I was ready to lay all my cards on the table

Mia opened the door, her face lighting up with a warm smile. "Hey, you," she greeted me, her voice soft and soothing. "Come on in."

I stepped inside, immediately feeling the familiar comfort of her space, the scent of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, and the gentle hum of background music played from the living room It was calming, just like Mia herself 

She always knew how to create an atmosphere that made you feel at ease, even when everything inside you was in turmoil

She led me to the couch, and we both sat down I sank into the cushions, letting out a long breath I didn't realize I had been holding Mia turned to me, her expression full of concern but also patience

She didn't push me to start talking right away, she knew I needed a moment to gather my thoughts

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I broke the silence. "I saw Rebecca yesterday."

Mia didn't react with surprise, she just nodded, waiting for me to continue. "What happened?" she asked gently

"She... she came up to me. Out of nowhere," I began, my voice shaky. "She said she regretted how things ended, but she didn't really explain, she was still guarded, but... I don't know It felt like she was trying to reach out. But I couldn't read her I didn't know what to say."

Mia's brow furrowed slightly as she listened, her eyes never leaving mine. "How did it feel to see her again?"

"That's the thing," I admitted, rubbing my hands together nervously. "It stirred up all these emotions I thought I had dealt with. Anger, hurt... but also something else. Something I haven't been able to figure out yet It's like, part of me still cares about her, and I hate that I do, Mia. I hate it."

Mia reached out and gently placed her hand over mine, grounding me with her touch. "It's okay to feel conflicted, Emma. You and Rebecca went through a lot together It's not easy to just shut off those feelings, no matter how much time has passed."

"But I thought I had moved on," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I thought I was done with all of it. And then she shows up, and suddenly, I'm back to square one."

Mia squeezed my hand, her expression empathetic. "Moving on isn't always about forgetting, you know? Sometimes it's about learning to live with the memories, to accept that they're a part of you, even if it's painful."

I looked at her, appreciating the wisdom in her words Mia had always been the voice of reason in my life, the one who could make sense of things when I couldn't. "I just don't know what to do, Mia," I confessed. "I feel so lost."

"You don't have to have all the answers right now," Mia said softly. "It's okay to take your time. You don't owe Rebecca anything, but if you still have feelings for her... maybe it's worth exploring those emotions. Even if it's just to get closure."

"Closure," I repeated, the word rolling around in my mind

Was that what I needed? Or was I just looking for an excuse to hold onto something that was already gone? I wasn't sure

Mia watched me carefully, her eyes full of understanding. "You've been through a lot, Emma It's okay to take a step back and figure out what you really want. You don't have to make any decisions right now."

I nodded, feeling a small sense of relief. "I'm just scared," I admitted. "Scared of getting hurt again. Scared of letting her back in, only to have her push me away all over again."

"That's a valid fear," Mia said gently. "But you're stronger now, you've grown and if you do decide to let Rebecca back into your life, you'll be doing it on your terms. Not hers."

I looked into Mia's eyes, grateful for her unwavering support. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

Mia smiled, her warmth radiating through the room. "You'd figure it out. You're stronger than you think."

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight on my chest lighten just a little. "Our date last night..." I began hesitantly. "It was really nice, Mia. But I think we both know that we're better off as friends."

Mia's smile didn't falter If anything, it grew softer, more understanding. "I've been thinking the same thing I care about you so much, Emma, but I think we're meant to be friends. Really good friends."

A wave of relief washed over me. "I'm glad you feel that way I was worried I might hurt you."

"You could never hurt me," she said softly. "And I'll always be here for you, no matter what."

I squeezed her hand, feeling a deep sense of gratitude. "Thank you, Mia. For everything."

She leaned in and kissed my cheek, a simple gesture that said so much more than words ever could. "You don't have to thank me. Just promise me you'll take care of yourself, okay?"

"I will," I promised. "I just need to figure out what that looks like."

"Take your time," she said with a smile. "And if you ever need to talk, you know where to find me."

We spent the rest of the afternoon together, the heavy conversation giving way to lighter topics, we laughed, reminisced, and for a while, I was able to push the confusion about Rebecca to the back of my mind

Mia had a way of making everything seem less overwhelming, and I was grateful for the distraction

But as I walked back to my apartment later that evening, the doubts and questions crept back in

What did I really want from Rebecca? And was I ready to face her again? The door had been opened, and I couldn't ignore it anymore, at least I knew I wasn't facing it alone this time 

Mia had shown me that it was okay to take my time, to figure out what I needed before diving back into something that could hurt me all over again

And for now, that was enough