THE SPACE BETWEEN US

were careful. But feel

-

ted wit

. Nothing overt.

e this morning. You're eas

hose documents from le

at the bookstore today

t. Not every night, but enough to star

lways r

tegic, but never not at all. Because the truth was, I was thinkin

done anything

inding mys

uments to his place. He'd left early for an emergency Zoom call, and the files-phy

nstead. But I didn't. Because the requ

he lobby had marble floors and a doorman who nodded like he'd memorized the life stories of e

man's expe

ething strange w

e door before

tone light but unmistaka

Her hair was down, slightly damp, like she'd just stepped

f not to loo

g them up like evidence. "Danie

nd lightly. "He's still on a call. H

s supposed to step inside or

the choic

rned a glass of win

houl

but still amused, "You work longer ho

pped

ive. Art that meant something to someone. Vases too tall to b

the k

Two mismatched mugs by the sink. A pair of ballet flats kicked off besid

es of a rich red win

m Napa. One of the few thi

in

's the one vacation we to

ped q

you've been a godsend. That the London

," I said. "He w

," she said. "But n

nt hung i

it off. "Well,

the rim of her glass.

this was going. Or maybe I

office? About how everyone needs someo

ded s

me. Back when we were nobodies. When we shared a two-bedroom

yed q

s of paper in my coat pocket. Said things like 'I see you.' 'Don't le

yself forgetting what his voice even soun

eary. "I'm sorry. I don't usually talk this

I said. "You're

r a second. "You'

y. "I'm not

why it

ot just from the wine. From prox

ou're walking a tightrope between who

the t

eps you

ht abou

lliant. Unapologetically herself. She doesn't care

ucky to

" I said. "She save

n her expression. A

te poetry," sh

rised me.

y became my vocabulary. I'd stay up all night writing. Not because

d n

projections and wonder when my vo

ce between us-com

rite again,"

e replied.

jasmine. She wasn't wearing perfume-just soap, clean and simple.

er wonder what would've happened if y

the t

ne and feel like... maybe t

answer ri

new what sh

I knew I f

urns are only possible if both peo

dn't r

dn't look

buzzed on

ni

p, read the mes

ll review the papers tomo

quickly, stepping

suddenly g

for th

listening,

r, she followed. Not t

or the handle, s

urn

d, neither

-small, sad, fu

ight, E

ight, L

closing behind me with a soft click t

ide down, I stare

ere we

re we n

like the space between tho