The conversation seemed to stall, caught in the tension of what was left unsaid. I shuffled my feet, unsure of what to do next, while Anna rocked James gently, her eyes far away.
“Can we sit down and talk?” I suggested, the words feeling both like an olive branch and a plea.
She hesitated, then nodded. “Yeah, maybe that would be good,” she agreed, though her voice was still distant.
We moved towards the small café area near the store entrance, the baby’s soft coos punctuating our steps. The world outside continued its slow spin while inside, our little universe felt like it was on the brink of collision.
I found us a quiet corner, away from the bustle of other shoppers. “So,” I began, “how have you been, really?”
She took a deep breath, her hands smoothing the fabric of her jeans as she settled into the chair. “It’s been… okay,” she said, but her eyes told a different story.
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