Fragile

Chapter 6 - Let Go

On Evelyn.

And the fear that I was already losing something I didn't even get the chance to keep.

The house was quiet.

I dropped my keys onto the counter, kicked off my shoes, and walked into my living room, sighing as I took in the space. It was neat, bare in a way that didn't feel intentional—just empty. The only things that really made it mine were the framed family photos lining the shelves and the Arsenal and England memorabilia hanging on the walls.

Other than that, it felt like a place I stayed, not a place I lived. I sank onto the couch, running a hand through my hair, staring at my phone in my other hand. Evelyn still hadn't replied.

I chewed the inside of my cheek, my thumb hovering over our last conversation. It wasn't like she completely disappeared—she still sent the occasional text—but something was off. It wasn't the same. The rhythm of us was breaking.

And I didn't know why. I sighed, unlocking my phone and typing out another message.

Me: Hey. Hope your day wasn't too crazy.

I stared at the screen, waiting, willing the little typing bubble to appear. Nothing. I exhaled, dragging a hand down my face. I didn't want to be that person, the one who pushed when someone clearly needed space. But I also wasn't going to sit here and let this slip away without trying.

Before I could overthink it, I hit call. The phone rang. Once. Twice. Three times. I almost hung up. Almost convinced myself to let it go. Then—

"Hello?" Evelyn's voice was quiet, but there was something tense beneath it.

I sat up a little straighter. "Hey."

A pause. Then, "Leah... it's late."

I glanced at the time. Not that late...for her anyway. "I know. I just—" I sighed, rubbing my temple. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

I frowned. "Are you?"

A longer pause. Then Evelyn exhaled sharply. "Leah, what do you want?"

The frustration in her voice caught me off guard. "I want to talk to you," I said carefully. "I feel like you've been avoiding me."

"I've just been busy," she said, but it sounded defensive.

I clenched my jaw, keeping my voice calm. "Evelyn, if something's wrong, just tell me."

She let out a bitter laugh. "What's wrong is that you're in London and I'm here and I don't know what the hell we're doing."

My chest tightened. "We're doing what we said we'd do. We're figuring it out."

"It doesn't feel like figuring it out, Leah," she snapped. "It feels like dragging something out that's not gonna work."

The words hit me like a punch to the stomach. I inhaled slowly, steadying myself. "Is that what you want?"

Evelyn didn't answer right away, and that silence hurt more than anything she could have said. Finally, she sighed, her voice quieter. "I don't know what I want, Leah."

I closed my eyes for a moment. "Then why are you pushing me away?"

"I'm not—" She cut herself off, then exhaled. "I don't know how to do this, okay? You're there, and I'm here, and my life is—" She let out a frustrated sound. "I have Riggs, I have school, I have work. I don't have time to sit around missing you."