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Everything We Almost Said

drama◐ Mature
5 contributors · 4 paragraphs deep

Theo sits back down. "Okay," he says. "I'll stay." Then, after a breath: "But I'm moving to Seattle in three weeks, Mara. My brother got me a job. I was going to tell you tonight." The diner suddenly feels very small. Mara stares at him.

"Three weeks," Mara repeats, numb. "You were going to let me find out from a phone call." Theo looks at the table. "I didn't know how to say it." She pushes back from the booth. "You never do. That's the whole problem."

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Theo catches her wrist, gentle. "Sit. Please. You're right, I'm a coward about the big stuff. But here it is: I love you. I've loved you since that night on the 22 bus when you fell asleep on my shoulder. I never said it because saying it makes it something I can lose." Mara sits back down, eyes wet. "You idiot," she whispers. "Me too. The whole time."

TE
Tomas Eklund
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