I gave her a reveal and waited for the reaction I wanted.
The truth sits heavy in my chest.
“I did the opposite of what worked,” I say.
“Pretty much.”
“You could say that nicer.”
“I could, but we both know you’d miss the point.”
This time, I laugh for real, even though it still hurts.
I turn slowly, taking in the whole studio one more time. It doesn’t look like a dream anymore. It looks like a room I need to walk out of before I start making another plan nobody asked for.
“I need to get out of here,” I say.
“Good.”
“I don’t know what to do about the lease.”
“Figure that out later.”
“And Lily?”
“Wait until she’s ready.”
I nod even though she can’t see me. “Yeah.”
“And don’t show up at her house with flowers and a speech.”
“I wasn’t going to do that.”
“You thought about it.”
I did, but I’m not giving her that. “I didn’t say I was doing it.”
“Progress.”
I walk toward the front door, turning off the lights as I go. The studio changes immediately. Less bright. Less possible. More empty. I understand how Lily might have seen it...not as a dream.
As a decision.
“I’m going to leave her alone today,” I say.
“Good.”
“But when she’s ready, I need to apologize.”
“Yessir!”
I lock the door and stand outside with the keys in my hand. They feel heavier than they did yesterday.
“I gotta go,” I tell her.
“Okay. Don’t do anything dumb.”
“I’m not.”
