Chapter 31: Distance
The Dream House
Book One
Silence has a strange way of becoming a habit.
It had been four days.
Four days since I'd seen those words on Luna's phone.
Ight... see you soon.
Four days since I'd answered one of Sinnad's messages.
Four days since I'd convinced myself...
I didn't care.
The problem was...
I did.
The old pencil rolled across my worktable as I erased another sketch.
The line wasn't wrong.
Nothing was wrong.
I simply couldn't focus.
Every time I picked up the pencil...
My mind wandered.
Not to the Dream House.
Not to the locked door.
To him.
I sighed.
"This is ridiculous."
I closed my sketchbook.
Maybe I needed coffee.
Across town...
Imani Barbershop buzzed with its usual rhythm.
The clippers hummed.
Someone laughed near the waiting area.
A little girl admired her fresh braids in the mirror while Ruth smiled proudly.
"You look beautiful."
The little girl beamed.
"I know."
Everyone laughed.
Sinnad looked toward the front window.
Then checked his phone again.
Nothing.
Ruth noticed.
"You checking again?"
He slipped the phone back into his pocket.
"I thought maybe she'd answer."
"Maya?"
He nodded.
"You two argue?"
"I don't think so."
"You sure?"
"I would've remembered."
Ruth leaned against the counter.
"Maybe she's just busy."
"Maybe."
But somehow...
He didn't believe it.
Later that afternoon...
Luna stood outside Maya's apartment building holding two iced coffees.
One caramel.
One vanilla.
She smiled to herself.
Maya's going to complain that I spent too much money again.
She knocked.
Nothing.
She knocked again.
Finally...
The door opened.
Maya forced a smile.
"Hey."
"Hey."
"I brought coffee."
"You didn't have to."
"I know."
Luna stepped inside.
The apartment looked different.
Not messy.
Just...
Quiet.
Too quiet.
Sketchbooks were stacked neatly.
Paintbrushes had been cleaned.
Music wasn't playing.
Even the windows were closed.
Everything about the room felt...
Careful.
Luna sat on the couch.
"You okay?"
"I'm fine."
"You don't sound fine."
"I'm just tired."
"Maya."
"What?"
"You've said three words since I got here."
"I'm listening."
"No."
Luna looked at her carefully.
"You're avoiding me."
Maya looked away.
"I'm not."
"You are."
Silence.
Long silence.
Luna changed the subject.
"Ruth finally got her phone fixed."
"Hm."
"She says she's going to braid my hair next week."
"That's nice."
Another silence.
Luna slowly placed her coffee on the table.
"...Did I do something?"
The question landed between them.
Heavy.
Maya wanted to answer.
She really did.
Instead...
"I've just been busy."
Luna nodded slowly.
But her eyes said...
I know you're lying.
That night...
Sinnad tried one last time.
Sinnad:
Hope you're okay.
The message remained unread.
He stared at the screen for a few seconds.
Then quietly locked his phone.
Miss Carmen's words echoed in his mind.
"Don't chase people who need time to find themselves."
He slipped the phone into his pocket.
"Tomorrow."
He whispered.
"Maybe tomorrow."
Across the city...
I lay awake staring at the ceiling.
My phone rested on the nightstand.
Screen glowing softly in the dark.
Three unread messages.
One missed call.
All from Sinnad.
I reached toward it.
Stopped.
Pulled my hand back.
Rolled over.
Closed my eyes.
And somehow...
That hurt even more.