I ran. Literally ran. Out of my apartment, into the pouring rain. My heart pounded in my chest as I ignored the text from Daniel, clutching Ethan's message like a lifeline.
We met at the quiet corner café he always loved. "You've been avoiding me," he said, concern softening his teasing tone.
"I… I don't know what to do," I admitted, voice trembling.
"You don't have to choose tonight," Ethan whispered, leaning closer. "Just… be honest with yourself."
And then it hit me. The truth I had been hiding. The real reason my heart felt torn. Could I ever choose without breaking something inside me forever?
The rain had stopped, leaving the streets glistening under the faint glow of streetlights. I walked home slowly, my mind a whirlwind of confusion. Ethan's words echoed: "Just be honest with yourself." But honesty was terrifying.
When I opened my apartment door, Daniel was waiting, leaning against the wall like he'd never left. His eyes softened when they met mine, but there was hurt there too.
"Why are you avoiding me?" he asked quietly.
"I… I don't know how to choose," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.
He stepped closer. "You don't have to choose tonight. Just tell me the truth. How do you feel?"
My chest tightened. The truth was a storm I wasn't ready to release. And yet, hiding it felt worse.
Before I could speak, my phone buzzed again. Ethan. "I'm outside. We need to talk."
Two hearts. One me. I realized then that the choice wasn't just about them—it was about who I was willing to risk, and who I was willing to hurt.
And that night, I made a decision: I would face them both… but the truth might destroy everything.