Clarity Of The Other Man

a way of pushing forward, whether she was ready or not. But something had shifted within her. Caleb's presence in her life had begun to feel less

; he was starting to feel like someone she could trust, someone

would look like and instead focused on simply getting through each day. It wasn't perfect, and the healing process still felt like a ja

k she had been sorting through at the small desk in her apartment. Caleb stood in the doorway, h

d, his voice qui

subtle change in his deme

side, his movements slow, delib

in her chest. "

n the floor for a moment before meeting hers. "There's something I've been mean

ossibilities. Whatever it was, it couldn't be good.

est with you," he said q

dn't breathe. What did he mean? Had he been lying to her all along? Her thoughts

e finally asked, her v

"I'm not just some guy who moved here and started hanging around the park. I didn't tell you everything

at had happened with Jackson, the last thing she needed was more lies, more secrets. Yet, she couldn't bring herself

strained. "Things I'm not proud of. Things I thought I

unspoken tension in his words left a cold

l group, but... we have connections. People who don't always play by the rules. I never wanted you to get involved in th

was telling her. Was he dangerous? Was she in danger now? Her puls

for us?" she asked,

from you. It means I've been lying, and I know that doesn't make me seem trustworthy. But

re answers, but another part of her couldn't deny the sincerity in his eyes. He wasn't hiding this from her out of malic

his now?" she asked, her

, and I don't want to keep lying to you," he admitted, his voice raw. "I c

asn't sure if she could trust it anymore. She wanted to pull away, to run and never look back. But a deeper

ssed, her voice breaking slightly. "I

m you. I know I've already broken your trust once before with this. And if

mix of confusion, anger, and a strange kind of understanding. She didn't know if she was ready to fo

ut I guess... I can understand why you didn't. I don't know if I can t

brief moment, he looked almost re

und them. "I need some time to think," she said, her voice shaky but determined. "I don't know

ing as well. "Take all the time y

im, her mind still racing. "I'll be okay,

led with that same mixture of regret and ho

tside felt so far away, so distant from the whirlwind of emotions that churned inside her. She had known tha

round her. She wasn't sure what the next step was, or even if she was ready to face the realit