It's just not the same
I thought about the date we had with Ciara, about the way she had looked at me under the soft glow of the lanterns, the way she had kissed me like I was the only thing that mattered in the world. Those moments felt real, felt like something more than just a passing fling. But was that enough?
As the day passed, the distance between us only seemed to grow. Ciara was always busy, always occupied with something that kept her away from me. I knew she had her duties, but it was hard not to feel like I was being pushed aside, like I didn't matter as much as I had before.
I tried to focus on my work with Leora, but even that felt hollow without Ciara's presence. Leora noticed the change in me, of course. She was too perceptive not to.
The next day, as we were sorting through a stack of documents in her office, Leora glanced up from her work and gave me a pointed look.