- Foreboding -

- Breaking the Silence -

It's been getting a little easier for me since that night. Dr. Whitfield's help, along with her advice to take self defense classes and learning from hiking experts, has made a difference.

Gaining those skills has helped me feel more in control, and the fear of something like that happening again has eased - if only a little.

The guilt of it all still weighs on me. I can't help but blame myself. Josh barely messaging me hasn't helped either - just a few short texts asking how I'm doing, updates from his side as well, after all the messages I left for him.

I get it. He needed time. It just... it hurts, knowing he probably blames me too. And now, after all this time, it feels like he only just found the courage to speak to me again.

I shake away the thoughts and keep striding down the sidewalk, the cold nipping at the tip of my nose until it turns red. Finally, I spot my destination - a shop I used to visit every year for Halloween supplies.

Is it way too early? Absolutely. But I need to grab the good stuff before the real season hits, and everyone snatches it away from me.

The bell above the door chimes, as I step inside, the warm air greeting me instantly. I rub my hands together and blow into them, trying to chase away the lingering chill.

"Hey Zack! Long time no see, is everything holding up alright?" The lady behind the counter greets me, knowing me as a normal customer, well before I stopped leaving my house a month back.

Hey!" I offer a small smile, though it feels a bit forced. "Yeah, everything's been... holding up." The words sound hollow, but it's the best I can manage right now.

She tilts her head slightly, a flicker of concern crossing her face, but she doesn't push it. "Glad to see you out and about again, Zack. We've got a bunch of new stuff this year if you're looking for something different."

I nod, grateful for the shift in conversation. "Yeah, I could use something cool for the season. Maybe a new mask or some creepy lights?" I wonder deeper into the store, the familiar smell of rubber masks and cinnamon scented candles wrapping around me like a blanket.

As I move through the aisles, my fingers brushing against the props and costumes, I try to let the surroundings ground me. This place has always been a small escape - a weird comfort in the chaos. And right now, I need that more then ever.

After a few minutes, I pick up a black skull mask with intricate silver detailing. It's eerie, but not too flashy - just the kind of thing I like. I also grab a set of fake cobwebs and a few battery-operated candles, the flickering kind that almost looks real.

Satisfied, I head toward the counter, the door chimes again, and someone steps inside. Out of instinct, I glance towards the entrance - and freeze.

It's Josh.

His eyes meet mine, those green eyes I have loved always, and for a moment we just stand there, locked in place, as if the world has pressed pause. I don't know what I expected - maybe indifference or awkwardness - but there's something else in his gaze. Guilt? Relief? It's hard to tell.

"Zack," he says quietly, his voice laced with hesitation.

"Josh." I nod, gripping the mask in my hands tighter. My heart pounds in my chest, but I keep my face neutral. "Hey."

He shifts his weight from one foot to the other, stuffing his hands in his pockets, almost as if he's trying to hide himself. "I... wasn't expecting to see you here."

"Same," I mutter, unsure of what else to say. There are so many things I want to ask, to say - but none of them feel right. Not here, not now.
Josh clears his throat.

"Listen, I know I've been... distant. I'm sorry for that. I just-" He cuts himself off, as if unsure how to finish the sentence.

His eyes look desperately at me, as if he's asking for forgiveness. I don't understand, why is he giving me that look, shouldn't I be the one giving him that?

"It's fine," I say quickly, though it's anything but. "I get it. You needed space."

He flinches, the words landing heavier than I intended. Never have hearing me use that kind of tone, especially towards him, I guess really got to him. "Yeah, but I shouldn't have left you hanging like that. I was... processing everything, and I guess I didn't know how to deal with it."

For a moment, neither of us speaks. The store feels too small, the air between us thick with unspoken things.

Finally, I exhale and say, "maybe we should catch up sometime, there's this nice little cafe not too far from here." The tension leaves the air, weight being lifted from both of your shoulders.

Josh's expression softens a bit, "Yeah, I would love that actually." Shyly he admits that, a tone of saying that he missed me, he missed us being around one another.

The sincerity in his voice catches me off guard, and for first time in a while, the anger and guilt I've been holding starts to loosen its grip. It doesn't mean everything is okay, but it's a start.

"Well if you're looking for a distraction too, this place always has the good stuff." I gesture to the store behind me, I continue to check out my items and have them be put in a bag.
Josh chuckles softly, the sound unfamiliar after all this time but still comforting in a strange way.

"Yeah, I could use a distraction." He glances around the store, hands still tucked in his pockets. "You always did know the best spots."

A small, genuine smile tugs at the corners of my mouth - maybe the first real one I've managed in weeks. "Gotta stay ahead of the Halloween rush."

Josh shifts closer, as if testing the waters, still tentative but hopeful. "Maybe... I'll grab something too. Feels like it's been forever since I really got into this stuff."

"Could be fun," I say, surprising even myself with how normal it sounds.

He nods, a flicker of relief crossing his face, and for the first time, it feels like we're stepping out of the shadows - if only a little. Not everything has been fixed, but maybe we can start again, piece by piece.

I grab my bag from the counter and glance back at Josh one more time. "I'll text you about that cafe."

"I'll be waiting," he says softly, his green eyes meeting mine again with something lighter, warmer than before.

And just like that, it feels a little easier to breathe.