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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.

"Then I'll come with you," Mara hears herself say. Theo blinks. "You'd leave Chicago? Your mom, your job, all of it?" "For you, yeah," she says. "I think I would." Saying it out loud makes it real, and terrifying, and somehow right.

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Theo's whole face changes, like a light coming on. "Okay," he breathes. "Okay, yes. Come to Seattle." They're both grinning like idiots in a snowed-in diner. It's reckless and barely planned, but for the first time in a year, nothing about them feels like almost. They start making lists on a napkin.

ED
Elif Demir
11 votes · future 1 of 3