When Felix found out about Pasco's visit, his chest
tightened with an unfamiliar, uncomfortable feeling.
He paced back and forth in Debbie's small
apartment, his movements restless but his voice
measured, careful not to break the boundary he knew Debbie valued.
"You told me you were done with him," Felix said
quietly, his tone laced with disappointment.
"I am," Debbie said, meeting his gaze, her voice firm.
"But I can't control who shows up in my life, Felix. He found me."
Felix stopped pacing and turned to face her. His eyes searched hers, looking for reassurance. "But why
didn't you tell me immediately?"
Debbie crossed her arms, feeling the weight of his
unspoken concern. "Because I knew how you'd react.I knew it would hurt you, and I didn't want that."
Felix nodded slowly, but his jaw tightened. "Debbie, I trust you. I do. But Pasco… he's not just someone
from your past. He's someone you loved deeply. I see the way his presence unsettles you."
Debbie's breath hitched, but she didn't look away.
"He doesn't unsettle me, Felix. He reminds me of who I was—how broken I felt. And I don't want to go back to that."
Felix stepped closer, his voice soft but tinged with
vulnerability. "Then help me understand. Because
right now, it feels like he's still holding onto a piece of you that I can't reach."
Debbie hesitated, her emotions warring inside her.
"He doesn't have a piece of me, Felix. But I won't
deny that seeing him again… it stirred things I
thought I'd buried. I don't know what to do with that."
Felix sighed, his gaze dropping to the floor. "I just
need to know that you're here—with me. That he's not going to pull you away."
Debbie reached out, taking his hands in hers. "I'm
here, Felix. But I need time to sort through my
feelings. This isn't about him. It's about me."
Felix nodded, though the tension in his chest
remained. "Take the time you need. I'll be here."