Outside the university, tears hadn't stopped yet, then a person took a seat beside me on the bench.
Sophia.
She held out tissues. "You looked like you might need these."
I grabbed one. Appreciation followed
"I'm not sleeping with him. Daniel and I are colleagues. Friends. That's it. I was helping him grade papers. We're co-teaching a seminar."
"You don't have to explain - "
"I do. Because he's my friend and he's been miserable for three days and you just made it worse. So yeah, I need to explain I'm not the reason he's pushing you away."
"I know I messed up - "
"Do you? From what he told me, you've been messing up for months. Choosing him but not really. Wanting him but being too scared to show up."
"I don't want him to hurt. I love him."
"Then why did it take you three days? Why do you only fight for him when you think you've lost him?"
There was no reply ready.
"He's scared you'll change your mind again. That you'll get scared. That you'll hurt him."
"I won't - "
