ERASING THE PAIN

THE TENSION OF DISTANCE

I sat on the edge of my bed, phone in hand, staring at the blank screen. The city was quiet tonight, but inside me, it was anything but calm. A whole week had passed since Andrew left for New York, but all I could think about was that night—the kiss that left me breathless, confused, and yearning for more. I had ghosted him once, and now, it felt like history was about to repeat itself.

The sudden buzz of my phone startled me. It was a message from Andrew.

How are you?

Just seeing his name sent my heart into a frenzy. His message pulled me back into that moment—the warmth of his lips, the intensity of his gaze, the closeness that felt agonizingly far now. I hesitated for a second, then began typing my reply.

I'm good. How's New York?

As soon as I hit send, I felt my pulse quicken. Every second stretched out painfully, and then finally, his reply popped up.

It's... fine. Busy. I miss home.

I read the words over and over, letting them sink in. Home. What did he mean by that? Was he just talking about the place he left behind—or was it more than that? Was it someone? My chest tightened as I typed my next message.

I miss you too.

My thumb hovered over the send button. The truth hung heavy between us, but I wasn't ready to admit everything, not while the wounds were still raw.

Andrew's POV (New York):

I stood by the window, the twinkling lights of New York stretching out beneath me like stars. The city looked distant, cold, but I couldn't tear my mind away from Callie, from that kiss, from the questions that had plagued me since I left. When her message appeared on my phone, my heart clenched.

I miss you too.

Her words stirred something deep in me—hope, maybe—but there was that same uncertainty that had lingered since that night. I ran a hand through my hair, frustration gnawing at me. I couldn't shake the pull she had over me.

Before I could stop myself, I hit the call button. It rang twice before her soft, familiar voice answered.

"Andrew?"

"Yeah... I couldn't sleep. I've been thinking about you." My voice was rough, every word a confession of something I could no longer hide.

There was a beat of silence, but when she spoke, her voice was soft, hesitant.

"I've been thinking about you too. About... that night."

My heart raced. We were both dancing around the truth, but it was there—real, undeniable.

"Callie, I don't know what we're doing. I don't know how to let you go again. That kiss... it was more than I expected. More than I can forget."

I could hear her breathing on the other end, unsteady, like she was grappling with the same feelings.

"I don't want to let go either," she admitted, her voice thick with emotion. "But we're miles apart now, Andrew. How do we... fix this?"

I closed my eyes, gripping the phone tighter. I was done running, done pretending I didn't need her.

"I wish you were here." The words slipped out before I could stop them. "Come to New York. Let's work this out... together."

Surprise:

Later that night, I was pouring myself a glass of wine, trying to quiet the mess of thoughts in my head. But as I took a sip, the doorbell rang. I wasn't expecting anyone.

Setting the glass down, I opened the door—and my heart nearly stopped.

"Callie?"

She stood there, framed by the city lights behind her, looking just as lost as I felt. We stood in stunned silence for a moment, the weight of everything between us hanging heavy in the air.

"Surprise," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

I blinked, struggling to process the fact that she was really here, on my doorstep.

"What are you doing here?" My voice was full of disbelief, but underneath it, there was something else—something that scared me.

"I didn't know where else to go," she admitted, her eyes locking with mine. "I needed to see you, Andrew. I needed to talk."

Her words were thick with meaning, and as I stepped aside to let her in, my mind raced.

"I wasn't expecting this," I managed to say, still reeling from her sudden appearance. "You just... showed up."

She shifted awkwardly, the tension between us building. "I couldn't wait any longer. I needed to see you."

There was a pause, thick with anticipation, as I turned to face her fully.

"This... this isn't just about us, is it?" I asked, trying to make sense of it all.

She shook her head, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "No... but it's a start."

We sat across from each other in the small living room, the wine glass untouched between us. The silence was heavy, charged with the weight of everything unspoken.

"You came all the way to New York?" I finally broke the silence. "For me?"

Callie nodded, her face flushed with emotion. "I couldn't stop thinking about you, about us. About what could've happened... if things were different."

Her words hit me, and the hurt I had been trying to bury surfaced. "You ghosted me, Callie. And now, after all this time, you just show up?"

She winced, guilt flashing in her eyes. "I know I hurt you. But I wasn't ready then. Now, I just want to be honest."

I turned back to the window, emotions swirling inside me. "I don't know what to do with this," I confessed. "You're here, and it feels like everything is rushing back, but I don't know if I can just... forgive everything."

Callie stood and approached me, her voice soft but determined. "I'm not asking for forgiveness. I'm asking for a chance. I don't want to run anymore."

Her words pulled at something deep inside me. I turned to her, feeling the raw pull between us.

"You make it sound so simple," I whispered, my hand grazing her arm. "But it's not."

"I know," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I'm here, Andrew. I'm here."

For a moment, everything else faded—our past, our pain. All that mattered was the space between us, the tension simmering just below the surface.

Just as our lips were about to touch, I pulled back, heart aching. "I can't," I whispered. "Not like this. Not yet."

Her eyes filled with hurt, but she nodded. "I understand. But I'm not giving up. Not this time."

Neither am I.