- 5 hours ago
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00:04I can see everyone's affection for me in real time
00:07A number floating above their heads
00:09Positive means sincerity
00:11Negative means falsehood
00:13Zero means the relationship is over
00:16Mom always shows a steady 86
00:18My best friend Chloe hovers at 72
00:20Jumping to 78 whenever I make her laugh
00:23My boyfriend of two years, Ethan
00:25A flat 51, just above passing
00:28I kept telling myself the number would climb with time
00:30Friday night
00:31I left work early, picked up the tiramisu Ethan had been craving
00:34I wanted to surprise him
00:38The apartment door was cracked open
00:42Stop it
00:43A woman's voice from the bedroom
00:46I pushed the door open
00:48Ethan's shirt hung open
00:49A woman clutched the sheets to her chest
00:51I looked up at Ethan's number
00:5351 crashed to a blinding zero
00:56Zero
00:57Our relationship was over
00:59The woman on the bed looked at me
01:01She knew who I was
01:02She'd done this on purpose
01:04Emma!
01:05Listen to me, it's not what you think
01:09Not what I think?
01:11Then what is it?
01:13I was drunk
01:14She came on to me
01:16Two beers and you're gone?
01:17So what?
01:18It was one time
01:20Two years together and you're gonna throw it away?
01:23His number kept falling
01:24No guilt
01:26Just irritation at being caught
01:27So you're Emma?
01:29Ethan said dating you was exhausting
01:31Like being nagged by a mom
01:35And you are?
01:36The cleaning lady?
01:37Just here to tidy up?
01:40Emma, don't talk like that
01:41Rachel's just a co-worker
01:43She came over to hang out
01:46Hang out on the bed?
01:47Your company culture is really something
01:49Can you just calm down?
01:51Fine
01:51Ethan
01:52We're done
01:53I'm moving out
01:55He froze for a second
01:57His number dropped to minus 57
01:59Emma, don't do this
02:01I'm sorry
02:01I messed up
02:03Are you sorry because you did it?
02:05Or sorry because I walked in?
02:09His mouth opened
02:10Nothing came out
02:11I walked past him into my room
02:13And pulled out my suitcase
02:14A few changes of clothes
02:16Laptop
02:17Charger
02:17Nothing he'd ever given me
02:19I left it all behind
02:20You're really leaving?
02:22It's the middle of the night
02:23What do you want me to do?
02:24Stay and applaud?
02:25I rolled my suitcase past him
02:26Then paused and glanced up
02:28Minus 63
02:29Two years to climb to 51
02:31One night to crash past zero
02:34He'd never loved me
02:35He just tolerated me
02:37Until something more exciting
02:38Walked through the door
02:39Goodbye, Ethan
02:40Don't call me
02:41Don't text me
02:42Pretend I never existed
02:43You're already good at that
02:44He didn't answer
02:46I walked out
02:47The streets were empty
02:48I crouched by the curb
02:50Waiting for a cab
02:51My phone rang
02:52Mom
02:53Emma?
02:55Sweetheart, it's past midnight
02:56Everything okay?
02:59Mom
03:00Ethan and I broke up
03:01Did he hurt you?
03:03He cheated on me
03:05Come home
03:06I'll make you some soup
03:07Mom
03:08I think I want to be alone for a while
03:10Emma
03:10You didn't deserve this
03:15I'm okay
03:16You can cry
03:17It wasn't your fault
03:18I made a small sound of agreement
03:20The cab pulled up
03:21I opened the door and slid in
03:22In the rearview mirror
03:24The doorway stayed empty
03:25Ethan didn't come after me
03:27One month after the breakup
03:28I moved into a studio near my office
03:30I threw out everything Ethan ever gave me
03:33That ugly stuffed bunny went straight into the trash
03:35Mom called every day
03:37Had I eaten?
03:38Was I sleeping?
03:39Chloe came over Saturday with bags of groceries
03:42She did a lap around the apartment
03:44Not bad
03:45Cleaner than that dump you two shared
03:46That was all Ethan's mess
03:48Right
03:48Take out the trash
03:49The whole world looks better
03:50She stuffed a bottle of wine in the fridge
03:53Her number glowed a steady 74
03:55Warm
03:56Real
03:56You doing okay?
03:58Actually okay?
04:00Getting there
04:02Have you talked to him?
04:03Blocked him
04:04Every account
04:05Good
04:06So
04:06When are you getting back out there?
04:08I'd rather not date anyone for now
04:11I don't trust my own judgment anymore
04:12I thought he was a decent guy for two years
04:14Everyone gets fooled once
04:16Doesn't mean you stop believing in people
04:18I said nothing
04:19Because I hadn't been fooled
04:21I'd seen his 51 every single day
04:23And told myself it was enough
04:24That was worse
04:27Week two
04:27Mom started dropping hints over the phone
04:29Emma honey
04:30I'm not pushing
04:31But Linda from church
04:32Mentioned her nephew
04:33Mom
04:34No
04:34He works at the bank
04:36Owns his condom
04:37Mom
04:38I'm not ready to date
04:40I know sweetheart
04:41Just dinner
04:42Get out of the house
04:43Fine
04:44One dinner
04:45The restaurant was a
04:47The man across from me was 34
04:49A lawyer named David
04:54So
04:55Emma
04:56I looked over your profile
04:58I think we match on every level
05:00Once we're married
05:01You won't have to work
05:02Just take care of the home
05:03I've got the rest covered
05:04I looked up
05:05Fifteen
05:06That's a lot to decide over appetizers
05:08I know what I want
05:11I don't have time to waste
05:12On what?
05:14Getting to know me?
05:15His number dipped
05:16Zero
05:18Emma
05:19I've dated enough to know when something works
05:20And what works about this?
05:23You're pretty
05:23You're educated
05:24Your family's stable
05:26I don't need fireworks
05:27I need a partner
05:28Lens fifteen
05:29He wasn't even trying to hide it
05:31You haven't asked me a single question
05:33I don't need to
05:34It's all on the profile
05:35What's my job?
05:38Something in marketing?
05:40Wrong
05:40Look, I'm being straightforward
05:41Most women appreciate that
05:43Thirty-two
05:44His patience was gone
05:46David
05:47You're not being straightforward
05:48You're interviewing a housekeeper
05:49And calling it a date
05:50I'm going to save us both the entree
05:54Excuse me?
05:55Thank you for the wine
05:57Unbelievable
05:58I walked out
05:59He said something behind me
06:01The music swallowed most of it
06:02Probably ungrateful
06:03I waited at the curb for my
06:05And felt for the first time in weeks
06:07Weightless
06:09I work at a big tech company
06:12Coworkers who greet me with
06:13Emma
06:13Hey girl
06:14Turn around and trash me by the coffee machine
06:17Their sweet smiles comes with a red minus 21 floating above
06:20My manager plays fair in meetings
06:22But the second something goes sideways
06:24And he needs someone to blame
06:25His number drops to menace 50
06:28That Monday morning
06:29Department-wide messages blew up
06:31Right before the all-hands meeting
06:32HR just announced a new CEO
06:34Isn't that the guy from the conference last year?
06:37Everyone showed up 10 minutes early
06:38I took a seat in the third row
06:40The intern next to me
06:42Lily
06:42Was practically vibrating
06:44He walked in
06:46Sharp-jawed
06:47His cold eyes sweeping the room
06:48Emma
06:49Look
06:50Out of habit
06:52I glanced up
06:52Empty space above his head
06:54No number
06:55No color
06:56I blinked and shifted angles
06:58Yet it remained blank
07:00You okay?
07:0140 minutes in
07:02I looked at him at least 20 times
07:04But saw nothing
07:05After
07:06Lily dragged me toward the front
07:07I just want a closer look
07:09We passed him in the aisle
07:10And I stared
07:11It was still blank
07:12Even from 3 feet away
07:13He stopped mid-sentence and turned
07:15His eyes landed on me
07:18Something you need?
07:20Sorry
07:20Hi Mr. Lucas
07:22His gaze held a beat too long
07:24Then he nodded and turned back to HR
07:27Lily pulled me out
07:28My pulse was pounding
07:30Emma
07:31You were staring
07:33I just wanted to see his face
07:35Did you?
07:37Yeah
07:39Weeks went by
07:40Every hallway pass
07:42Every elevator ride
07:43I looked up
07:44Always blank
07:45One afternoon
07:46I brought my laptop into his office
07:48To walk him through the deck
07:49Section 3 doesn't hold up
07:51We brought it by Monday
07:53Understood
07:54I'll send a revised version
07:58Here and here
07:59The logic breaks
08:03You're right
08:03I should have caught it
08:04Before sending it up
08:05I'll fix it tonight
08:07Timeline too tight?
08:10A little
08:11Flag it earlier next time
08:13I'll get you support
08:15Thank you Mr. Lucas
08:16Thanks for the notes
08:18It's my job
08:19I left
08:20Then leaned against the hallway wall
08:22And exhaled
08:22Was that the truth?
08:24Anyone else?
08:25I'd know
08:26With him
08:26I had nothing
08:27That night
08:29Chloe called for gossip
08:30So?
08:30What's the new CEO like?
08:32Went through my whole deck
08:33Slide by slide
08:35Damn
08:35He actually read it?
08:38Yeah
08:39Is he a jerk about it?
08:41No
08:42That's the weird part
08:43So he's a robot
08:45Something like that
08:46After we hung up
08:48I lay on my bed
08:48Staring at the ceiling
08:49I read people's emotions
08:51All the time
08:52I'd never seen a blank
08:53Lucas had nothing
08:55And I couldn't tell
08:56If that scared me
08:56Because he was hiding something
08:58Or because he wasn't
09:00Ethan found out where I worked
09:03Wednesday evening
09:03I stepped out of the lobby
09:05And there he was
09:06Blocking the sidewalk
09:07With a bouquet of red roses
09:08Emma
09:09Two years
09:11You're really gonna throw that away
09:12Over one mistake?
09:13People stopped
09:14Someone pulled out a phone
09:15I glanced up
09:16Man is 71
09:17Lower than the night he cheated
09:19He didn't miss me
09:21He hated that I'd walked out first
09:23Go home, Ethan
09:24I've been calling for weeks
09:25You blocked my number
09:26How much were the roses?
09:29What?
09:30How much?
09:33200 bucks
09:34Why?
09:35Return them
09:36Don't waste the money
09:39Someone in the crowd laughed
09:43You're humiliating me
09:45In front of your whole company
09:47You humiliated yourself
09:49The second you brought her
09:50Into our bed
09:52Emma
09:52I pulled back
09:54And a hand reached
09:55Past my shoulder
09:55And clamped around
09:56Ethan's wrist
09:58Ethan winched
09:59And let go
09:59It was Lucas
10:02He stared down at Ethan
10:03Let go of her
10:06Who the hell are you?
10:07Her employer
10:08You're harassing my staff
10:09Outside my building
10:11Ethan eyed the black car
10:12At the curb
10:13The driver waiting
10:14His posture shrunk
10:15This is personal
10:17We used to date
10:17Used to
10:18Security
10:19Front entrance
10:20Two guys
10:21You
10:21Three minutes before I call the police
10:23Your choice
10:24You'll regret this
10:25He stormed off
10:27The crowd dispersed
10:30You okay?
10:32Okay
10:32Thanks
10:34Has he done this before?
10:36He's my ex
10:37First time since I moved out
10:39How long ago?
10:41Three months
10:43Next time
10:44Call security
10:45Don't engage
10:46I nodded
10:47He turned to the car
10:49Something made me stop him
10:50Mr. Lucas
10:53Why did you step in?
10:56You're my employee
10:57Being harassed
10:58Outside my building
11:00Just that?
11:02Would you want another reason?
11:03I froze
11:04He opened the car door
11:06Get home safe
11:07The telltales vanished
11:09I stood there
11:10Gripping my bag
11:11Until my knuckles
11:11Turned white
11:12Would I want another reason?
11:14Was he testing me?
11:15Without a number
11:16I had nothing
11:17That night
11:18I dreamt of Ethan's number
11:19Falling again
11:1968
11:2051
11:21Zero
11:22Minus 63
11:23Minus 71
11:24Dropping and dropping
11:25While I stood there frozen
11:26I woke up soaked
11:27But it wasn't Ethan's face
11:28I saw when I closed my eyes again
11:30It was Lucas
11:31Standing under the streetlight
11:32Asking if I wanted another reason
11:34And above his head
11:35Nothing at all
11:35I didn't sleep the rest of the night
11:37I threw myself into work after that
11:40It was easier than thinking
11:42Project Crunch hit the next week
11:44My work went straight to Lucas
11:46And late nights became routine
11:48He was there too
11:49The executive floor stayed lit past two most nights
11:54One night the whole floor was empty except for us
11:57A cup suddenly appeared on my desk
12:00Hot chai latte
12:02Still steaming
12:03I looked up
12:04Lucas stood beside me with a black coffee
12:07Drink something warm
12:10Thanks Mr. Lucas
12:12He didn't leave
12:13He leaned against the next desk
12:15And took a slow sip
12:16Late night for you
12:18Not done with revisions
12:20You're still here too
12:22I live close
12:24I finally asked the question
12:26I'd been holding back
12:27Are you this thoughtful
12:29With all your staff?
12:30Depends
12:32On what?
12:36What do you think?
12:37My pulse snipped
12:38Above his head
12:40Still empty
12:40I don't know
12:42Emma
12:43Yes?
12:44Finish the latte and head home
12:46Revisions can wait
12:48Okay
12:51He left
12:52I wrapped both hands around the cup
12:54Light foam
12:55No sugar
12:56Exactly how I liked it
12:58That latte stayed on my mind all week
13:01I kept telling myself it was nothing
13:04But my brain wouldn't let it go
13:07The next Friday was the team dinner
13:13Emma
13:14Take this one with me
13:16You saved my ass on the last project
13:19I don't do shots
13:21Come on
13:22Just one shot
13:2333
13:23No malice
13:24Just drunk
13:25One shot
13:26Emma
13:26The table joined in
13:28I was reaching for the glass
13:31When a hand cut in and took it
13:33Lucas stood up
13:34Not loud
13:35But the whole table went quiet
13:37She doesn't do liquor
13:38I'll cover it
13:40Anything else?
13:42No sir
13:42Two seconds of silence
13:44Then someone started clapping
13:45My face burned
13:47Lucas sat down without looking at me
13:49Don't drink anymore tonight
13:53Nobody offered me a drink after that
13:55When it ended
13:56He offered me a ride home
13:59The car was quiet
14:02Mr. Lucas
14:03How did you know I don't drink liquor?
14:05You never touched the whiskey at the holiday mixer
14:07I stared at him
14:09He'd been watching
14:10For months
14:11Aren't you worried people will talk?
14:13About what?
14:14You playing favorites?
14:16Do you think I care?
14:17What I care about is something else
14:20Still blank above his head
14:23But that sentence hooked into me
14:24And wouldn't let go
14:25I replayed that sentence for days
14:28What I care about is something else
14:30I still had no idea what he meant
14:32Then Marcus started showing up
14:34Flowers on my desk daily
14:35Coffee every afternoon
14:37Waiting by my car at five
14:39I checked
14:39Twenty-two
14:40He wanted the chase
14:41He didn't actually see me
14:43The first time he handed me flowers
14:45I didn't take them
14:46I'm sorry
14:47I'm seeing someone
14:49Since when?
14:50Nobody told me
14:51Now you know
14:52Please stop
14:54Come on, Emma
14:54Everyone knows you just got dumped
14:56Getting dumped disqualifies me from dating?
14:58He walked off stiff
15:00Minus thirty-eight
15:01Now it was personal
15:02A week later
15:03The rumor started
15:04Break room
15:04Some people, right?
15:06Get dumped
15:07And suddenly they're chasing corner offices
15:08Have you seen her?
15:10Like Lucas would ever
15:11I walked in with my mug
15:13They shut up
15:13Minus thirty-three
15:15Twenty-one
15:15You done?
15:17Move
15:17I need the sink
15:19They scattered
15:20But the rumors kept growing
15:21That I was sneaking into his condo
15:23That I was tanking my work
15:25To get FaceTime with him
15:26I brought a status update to his office
15:29Mr. Lucas
15:30You've heard what they're saying
15:32I've heard
15:33Aren't you going to address it?
15:34Address what?
15:35That there's nothing between us
15:37Is it affecting your work?
15:39It's affecting how people look at me
15:40And how would you like me to address it?
15:42Rumors get louder when you deny them
15:44We'll do something
15:46Just not now
15:47Then when?
15:48When the timing's right
15:50I walked out with my folder
15:52My head was a mess
15:54The next afternoon
15:55An all-hands was called on zero notice
15:59Everyone crammed into the main conference room
16:01Whispering
16:02Lucas stood at the front
16:03Behind him
16:04The screen showed screenshots
16:06Marcus' harassment complaints
16:07From two previous companies
16:08IP logs of the rumor posts
16:10Timestamps
16:11Anyone caught fabricating
16:13Or spreading defamatory rumors
16:14About a colleague
16:15Will be treated as gross misconduct
16:17The employee in question
16:19Is terminated
16:19Effective immediately
16:22The room emptied fast
16:25Marcus stood in the corner
16:26White as paper
16:27Waiting for HR to walk him out
16:29I left last
16:31Lucas was still at the front
16:32Collecting his notes
16:33I walked up beside him
16:35So this was the right timing?
16:37Yes
16:39You could have warned me
16:41If I'd warned you
16:42You'd have stopped me
16:43Lucas
16:47You do all this
16:48Because I'm your employee
16:50Or something else
16:51He turned fully
16:52The room was empty
16:54He took a step closer
16:55I stepped back
16:57And hit the wall
16:58What do you think?
17:00I don't know
17:01I'm afraid of not knowing
17:03How to be around you
17:04Emma
17:04Are you afraid of me?
17:06I can't read you
17:08Then figure it out
17:10When you have your answer
17:11Come find me
17:11He left
17:13I leaned against the wall
17:14My heart was pounding
17:15Still blank above his head
17:17But there was something
17:19Underneath it
17:19To keep from falling
17:20I started avoiding him
17:22Instead of face to face
17:24No solo meetings
17:26Late work from home
17:29He noticed
17:30One evening the elevator
17:32Was just us
17:33Floor 23 down
17:36You're avoiding me
17:38No
17:39Just busy Mr. Lucas
17:41You worked past nine
17:43Three nights last week
17:44You waited until I left
17:45To come back for your things
17:46That was on purpose
17:48I had nothing
17:50Emma
17:51What are you afraid of?
17:52A lot of things
17:54I'm afraid of reading into this
17:56Afraid of confusing kindness
17:57For something more
17:58Afraid of falling
17:59And finding out
18:00It was all in my head
18:02How do you know
18:03It's in your head?
18:05Because I can't figure you out
18:07I can read most people
18:09But with you
18:10I have nothing to go on
18:13And I can't take that risk
18:16Ground floor
18:17The doors slid open
18:19He didn't move
18:20The doors closed again
18:22The elevator kept going
18:23Parking level
18:24Then don't take the risk yet
18:26Take your time
18:28I'm not going anywhere
18:32The doors opened
18:33On the garage
18:34Go home
18:35Come find me
18:36When you know your answer
18:40I practically ran
18:42I didn't sleep that night
18:44A week passed
18:46I still hadn't gone
18:47To find him
18:47But avoiding him
18:49At the office
18:49Didn't matter
18:50Because the annual retreat
18:51Was that weekend
18:52Mountain Lodge
18:53Upstate
18:53Two days of team building
18:55I couldn't skip
18:55Beautiful views
18:56Until the storm
18:57Hit that night
18:58I went for a walk
18:59Alone after dinner
19:00The trail was slick
19:01I stepped wrong
19:03And rolled my ankle hard
19:05It was dark
19:06And the signal
19:06Kept cutting in and out
19:07I sat on wet stone
19:09Ankle swelling
19:10Every movement stabbing
19:11The rain came down harder
19:13I was resigned
19:14To sitting until sunrise
19:15When footsteps
19:16Came through the rain
19:18A black umbrella
19:19Opened above me
19:20Lucas kraut down
19:22Denched
19:22Hair pasted to his forehead
19:24Shirt clinging
19:25He was in no better
19:26Shape than I was
19:27What happened
19:29Twisted my ankle
19:30How'd you find me
19:32Roll call
19:33You weren't there
19:34He checked my ankle
19:35His fingers touched
19:36The swelling
19:37I hished
19:38Can you stand
19:39I tried
19:40Collapse back down
19:42No
19:43Get on
19:45I climbed onto his back
19:47His shirt was cold
19:48His skin under it
19:49Was warm
19:49He carried me down
19:51The trail step by step
19:52Lucas
19:55Why did you come
19:56Get me yourself
19:57Who else was going to
19:59You could have sent someone
20:02I wouldn't have trusted anyone else
20:05Why me
20:07Because it's you
20:09For anyone else
20:10I wouldn't come into the woods
20:11In the middle of the night
20:14Back at the lodge
20:15He set me on the bed
20:16And knelt to work on my ankle
20:19Ice pack
20:21Bandage
20:22Clean and efficient
20:24Then he went to the front desk
20:26And came back with a mug of hot cocoa
20:29Drink
20:29Don't get sick
20:32I couldn't stop looking at him
20:34Above his head
20:36Still empty
20:36Still impossible
20:38Lucas
20:40Can I ask you something?
20:42Hmm
20:44Every time you look at me
20:47I feel like you already know something
20:49I haven't said
20:53Emma
20:54You look at me like you're trying
20:57To read something on my face
20:59My heart stopped
21:01You've been doing it since day one
21:05Whatever it is you're looking for
21:08I hope one day you stop needing to look
21:12I couldn't breathe
21:14He didn't press it
21:15He stood up
21:16And picked up his coat
21:19Finish the cocoa
21:20Get some sleep
21:22I'll have a car take you down in the morning
21:24At the door I stopped him
21:26Lucas
21:28I figured it out
21:29I'm not running anymore
21:31The corner of his mouth lifted
21:33Barely
21:34He pulled the door shut behind him
21:37I didn't sleep
21:38My head kept telling me to be careful
21:40My heart had already stopped listening
21:43A few weeks later
21:45Another storm
21:47I worked until 10.30
21:50The f***er was showing a two hour wait
21:52And triple surge
21:55Nothing was coming
21:56I stood by the lobby doors
21:58Watching sheets of rain
22:01The elevator dinged behind me
22:03Lucas stepped out
22:04Keys in hand
22:05Still here?
22:07Can't get a ride
22:08Get in
22:09I'll drive you
22:10I slid into the passenger seat
22:12Heat on
22:14Rain hammered the windshield
22:17Neither of us spoke for a long time
22:20Finally I said it
22:22Lucas
22:23I have a secret
22:27I can see how people feel about me
22:32Everyone has a number above their head
22:35Negative 100 to positive
22:37Positive is real
22:38Negative is fake
22:41My mom sits at 86
22:43My best friend at 72
22:46My ex fell from 51 to 0
22:48To negative 63 in one night
22:51But with you
22:53Nothing
22:54Just blank
22:56He pulled over and killed the engine
23:00You know why that scares me?
23:03Without the number I can't tell if you're real
23:06I've been burned by a zero once
23:09I can't do it again
23:11Emma
23:12Look at me
23:14I looked up
23:15Blank
23:16What do you see?
23:17Nothing
23:18Blank
23:18Now feel
23:21His heartbeat hit my palm
23:23Steady and heavy
23:25Because it's me
23:27Whatever you see above other people
23:28You'll never see it above me
23:31What I feel for you
23:33Is bigger than that
23:36How did you know I was looking?
23:37You look up first
23:38Then down at my face
23:39Like you're checking something
23:40Every single time
23:43When did you figure it out?
23:45Slowly
23:45The first all hands
23:47I noticed
23:47Then I watched
23:48In meetings you'd glance up
23:50Before answering anyone
23:52In the hallway
23:53Before saying hello
23:54Same pattern every time
23:56It wasn't a habit
23:57It was a check
24:01I don't know how you do it
24:03I don't need to
24:05I just knew you were reading people
24:07In a way no one else could
24:10Then why didn't you say anything?
24:12Because if I told you I noticed
24:14You'd panic
24:16You'd never trust that I liked you for you
24:19And not because I wanted access
24:21To whatever you can see
24:25I was waiting for you to stop checking
24:27Waiting for you to feel me instead
24:30What if I never stopped?
24:33Then I keep waiting
24:34What I feel isn't going anywhere
24:36I fell into him
24:38Don't run from me anymore
24:40I won't
24:43That was the night
24:43Everything changed
24:47He drove me home
24:48Through the rain
24:50Neither of us spoke much
24:53He walked me to my door
24:56My keys were shaking in my hand
24:59Do you want to come up?
25:05Not tonight
25:07Why?
25:09Because if I come up tonight
25:11You'll always wonder
25:12If this was just about that
25:19I want you to be sure of all of me
25:22My eyes burned
25:27Above his head
25:28Still blank
25:30But I didn't need to look anymore
25:32Get some sleep
25:33I'll pick you up for dinner tomorrow
25:36Seven
25:38Okay
25:40The next night
25:42He showed up at seven
25:43With a bouquet of white peonies
25:45Not roses
25:46He'd remembered I hated roses
25:49He took me to a quiet Italian place
25:52To a corner booth
25:53He ordered the wine I liked
25:55Without asking
25:56Halfway through dinner
25:57He reached across the table
25:59And took my hand
26:01I don't want to date you
26:03I want to be with you
26:06Okay
26:07That was our first real date
26:09Weeks passed
26:10I still caught myself looking up
26:13Blank
26:14But the meaning had shifted
26:16Before it scared me
26:18Now it felt safe
26:21But relationships aren't fairy tales
26:23We had our moments
26:25One night I worked late
26:27And forgot to text back
26:29He waited in the car
26:30For almost two hours
26:32When I climbed in
26:33His jaw was tight
26:34Lips pressed
26:35Fingers tapping the wheel
26:36Are you mad?
26:38No
26:38You are
26:41I'm not mad
26:42I was worried
26:45It takes two seconds
26:46To send a text
26:49I forgot
26:50I was in the middle
26:51Of a revision
26:53So remember next time
26:57I'm not saying
26:58Don't work late
27:00I'm saying
27:01Let me know where you are
27:04Okay
27:07Lucas
27:08Will your number ever show up?
27:12Probably not
27:13Ever
27:16So I'll never really know
27:18How much you love me?
27:24You've got a whole life
27:26To find out
27:28I laughed
27:29He pulled onto the road
27:32Streetlights slid past
27:35Wet pavement
27:36Caught the light
27:37In fragments
27:39Being with Lucas
27:40Taught me something
27:42I never learned
27:43With Ethan
27:45He didn't need
27:46To be entertained
27:48He didn't need
27:49Me to perform
27:51One Saturday morning
27:52He brought coffee
27:53To my apartment
27:54Before I was even awake
27:58I opened the door
27:59In an oversized shirt
28:00Hair everywhere
28:03He looked at me
28:04For a second
28:05Then handed me the cup
28:11You look tired
28:13I look like a raccoon
28:16A cute one
28:18He set a paper bag
28:19On the counter
28:21Bagels from the place
28:22I mentioned once
28:24Three weeks ago
28:29He'd remembered
28:33That was the thing
28:34About him
28:36He never made
28:37A big deal
28:37Of anything
28:39He just showed up
28:42That afternoon
28:42We curled up
28:43On the couch
28:44I picked an art news film
28:46Halfway through
28:47I looked over
28:48He was still watching
28:49Not looking at his phone
28:51Not falling asleep
28:52Just watching
28:53At the credits
28:55I asked
28:55Did you like it?
28:58He thought about it
28:59For three seconds
29:00Not my kind of film
29:03You could have said something
29:04We could have picked anything
29:06You wanted this one
29:08You sat through two hours
29:09Of something you didn't enjoy
29:12I enjoyed sitting through it
29:13With you
29:15Chloe grabbed coffee
29:16With me the next week
29:17So
29:18How's it going with the CEO?
29:20Really good
29:21Like really really
29:23Or just fine
29:24Really really
29:26You look different
29:27Different how?
29:29You used to smile
29:30With your mouth
29:32Now you smile
29:33With your eyes too
29:35I looked down
29:36At my cup
29:37She was more right
29:38Than she knew
29:40I think I'm actually happy
29:42For the first time
29:43In a long time
29:45About damn time
29:46Chloe wasn't done meddling
29:50That Saturday
29:51She called Lucas directly
29:53I only found out
29:54Because he told me
29:54Over dinner
29:56I'd cooked
29:56He'd done dishes
29:59Now he slid his arms
30:00Around me from behind
30:01Chin on my shoulder
30:02Your friend called me today
30:06Chloe?
30:07Hmm?
30:08What did she want?
30:10To ask if I was serious
30:11About you
30:13Then she told me
30:14If I ever hurt you
30:16She'd bury me somewhere
30:17No one would find the body
30:20That sounds like her
30:21She's protective
30:23She has reason to be
30:27Emma
30:28I want to be clear
30:28About something
30:29I'm not him
30:30I looked up
30:31My smile faded
30:33He didn't have to say
30:34The name
30:35I knew
30:36I know you're not
30:39Then don't wait for me
30:40To prove it by disappearing
30:43If I ever hurt you
30:44It'll be by mistake
30:45Not by choice
30:46And I'll fix it
30:48My eyes sting
30:49Okay
30:50He kissed my forehead
30:52I thought Ethan was done
30:54I was wrong
30:56He showed up at my office lobby
30:58On a Tuesday afternoon
30:59Emma
31:00Just five minutes
31:02I glanced up
31:04Manus 84
31:05Lower than ever
31:06Pure resentment
31:07No
31:09I heard about you
31:10And the CEO
31:12He held up his phone
31:13A photo
31:14Me and Lucas
31:15Leaving a restaurant together
31:17Last weekend
31:18So it's true
31:19You went straight from me
31:21To your boss
31:22I went straight from you
31:24To being alone
31:25Lucas came after
31:27You know what people
31:28Are going to think
31:29When this gets out
31:31That I have better taste now
31:33Emma
31:35Come back
31:35I'll change
31:36I'll do whatever you want
31:37His 84 didn't move
31:40He wasn't asking me back
31:41He was trying to ruin
31:43What I had
31:45Ethan
31:46Get out of my building
31:47Or the photo
31:48You posted online tonight
31:50Won't be the only thing
31:51Your name shows up next to
31:54How did you
31:55I didn't answer
31:57I just walked away
31:58I told Lucas that night
32:00He listened without interrupting
32:02When I finished
32:03He set his fork down
32:04Are you okay?
32:06Yes
32:09Do you want me to handle him?
32:11I already did
32:13He smiled faintly
32:14Proud
32:14Good
32:16He picked up his phone
32:17And typed something
32:18Then set it down
32:20What did you just do?
32:21Fix the timing
32:23The next morning
32:25An email went out
32:26To the entire company
32:27From the CEO
32:29Two lines
32:30Emma Carter and I
32:31Have been in a relationship
32:32For four months
32:33Any conduct that targets her
32:36Professionally or personally
32:37Will be addressed accordingly
32:40By lunch
32:42My inbox was flooded
32:43Half congratulations
32:45Half silence
32:46From the people
32:47Who used to whisper
32:48At my desk
32:49A coffee appeared
32:50Light foam
32:51No sugar
32:52And beside it
32:53A note in his handwriting
32:56Timing was right
32:58I looked up across the floor
32:59He was standing outside his office
33:02Watching me
33:03I smiled at him
33:04He smiled back
33:07A year later
33:10It was our anniversary
33:12Lucas made a reservation
33:13At the same Italian place
33:15Where he'd taken me
33:16On our first real date
33:17I should have noticed
33:18I should have noticed the signs
33:19He was quieter than usual
33:21On the drive over
33:22He kept glancing at me
33:24He touched his jacket pocket twice
33:26Dinner ended
33:29He set down his glass
33:31And reached across the table
33:32For my hand
33:33Emma
33:34A year ago
33:36In this booth
33:37I told you I didn't want to date you
33:40I wanted to be with you
33:45That hasn't changed
33:46Except now
33:47Being with you isn't enough
33:51He reached into his jacket
33:52And pulled out
33:53A small velvet box
33:56He got down on one knee
33:57Beside the table
33:59And opened it for me
34:01I want to build a life
34:02With you
34:04Will you marry me?
34:07Above his head
34:08Blank
34:10I looked at him
34:10Through blurring vision
34:13Yes
34:13Of course
34:14Yes
34:16He slid the ring
34:17Onto my finger
34:18Then he leaned across the table
34:20And kissed me
34:23Some things you don't need to see