The silence of the room pressed down on me after Mark left, his words still echoing in the corners of my mind. His apology had been sincere, raw, even disarming, but I couldn't shake the heaviness in my chest.
It would be so easy to walk out now. To take his offer, have the debts lifted, and leave this convoluted arrangement behind.
No more forced proximity.
No more trying to navigate our constant mix of misunderstanding and mistrust between us.
And yet... I didn't move.
I kept sitting curled on the bed, arms wrapped tightly around my knees as if they could shield me from the thoughts that refused to quiet.
Why couldn't I just leave? Why was I still here, contemplating giving Mark another chance?
