10 Hours Away
When he stopped kissing me, I felt the severe urge to pull him closer and take the initiative this time. The feeling I had just experienced was too good to be true and I couldn't let it go. I didn't want to. Although I had been kissed before, this felt like my first kiss; it was innocent yet so meaningful.
But there was no time for another kiss because he seemed impatient to break the silence; something I hadn't seen coming.
"I'm sorry." he apologized out of the blue.
My stomach churned and I rubbed my forehead as his words hopelessly confounded me.
"You're sorry?" I asked him; my voice sounding wobbly.
When our eyes met, he looked away in a split second. What was going on?
Amidst being unable to look him in the eyes, I tried to study his face. There was something wrong with the way he behaved towards me. All of a sudden, he had become cold and distant.
"I shouldn't have kissed you." Noah confessed. "I'm sorry."
"Then why-" I cut myself off by pressing my lips together firmly. I had to stop myself from giving him a chance to explain himself – to justify his odd demeanor.
Somehow, I felt conflicted and I didn't enjoy this feeling. So, as a result, I needed to protect myself immediately. Without thinking, I stepped away from him because I didn't want to be in close proximity right now. He had taken something from me he couldn't give back.
Automatically, I pulled at the sleeves of my gray hoodie. I crossed my arms against my chest while looking down at my old and dirty black boots I had worn on our day together. Humiliation overcame me while I remembered saying yes to his offer this morning.
"It's better if you go." I spoke up confidently.
I wanted him out of my apartment.
"Liz." Noah called softly.
"Get out." I wasn't going to take a no for an answer. "Please." I begged.
"Okay." he murmured.
When he grabbed his belongings I knew he was going to walk out of my apartment without a second glance. Once he shut the door behind him, I covered my face in my trembling hands. For a second I thought I was going to cry, but I promised myself to keep steady. I wasn't going to breakdown because someone decided to play with me. Someone whom I hadn't known for years.
Did he know he hurt me by apologizing so heedlessly? Did he even care about how I could feel right now? While my mind was spinning around, I knew it was necessary for him to leave me alone so I could experience peace and space. He brought chaos with him and I wasn't made for it.
I wondered if he regretted saying sorry. I wondered whether he'd go home and think about this day; the morning, afternoon and evening we spend together. From the moment he texted me till our kiss. I wondered if he'd repeat every second of our time like his favorite movie. Yet I was afraid he wouldn't.
Right then I despised myself because whenever I sought answers, I backed out.
Occasionally, I was too afraid to ask questions in order to give myself closure. But there were moments I could say whatever I wanted and be totally fearless. Alas, it wasn't today. So ruefulness closed up my throat since I knew I had gotten myself into trouble. Why did his entire existence cause me trouble in an unknown place? No one had ever consumed me so unexpectedly.
As I sat down on the edge of the couch and gulped down the champagne we were supposed to drink together, it didn't surprise me I started to ask myself why I had invited him over. I should've known better to keep my distance instead of being this naïve. It struck me we would've had a lovely day, if I hadn't asked him to stay longer.
YOU ARE READING
10 HOURS AWAY | A Novel
RomanceWhen Liz Miller gets the opportunity to leave Brussels to attend the James Goldwirth Writing Program in New York City, she doesn't hesitate for a second. Finally, after all those years of hard work and handling criticism, she's going to get her debu...