Unsaid Words
Doris woke up before her alarm rang.
The room was still dark, but light filtered through the blinds like secrets slipping between cracks.
She turned over.
Dante's side of the bed was empty.
Again.
She sat up slowly, heart thumping against her ribs.
She walked out into the living area of their small Camden apartment, barefoot on the cold floor.
There he was.
Sitting by the window.
His laptop open.
His face unreadable.
He didn't look at her when she entered.
"What are you reading?" she asked softly.
He closed the laptop without answering.
"It's fine," she said quietly. "You don't have to tell me."
He finally looked at her.
But not with love.
With something heavier.
Regret.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
"For what?"
He didn't answer.
Just stared at her like he wanted to say a thousand things—but couldn't find the right one.
---
We're Running Again
They sat across from each other at the kitchen table.
Coffee steamed between them.
Silence stretched longer than it should have.
Then Doris broke it.
"You got the offer."
Dante blinked.
She gestured toward his laptop. "From LA."
He exhaled slowly.
"Yes."
She nodded, as if she'd already known.
"And?"
He looked at her carefully. "I haven't decided yet."
She laughed bitterly. "Of course you haven't."
He leaned forward. "I want to talk about this with you."
She met his eyes. "Do you? Or do you just want to pretend we're fine until you make your decision without me?"
He flinched.
"I wouldn't do that."
"Wouldn't you?" she countered. "You've done it before."
He looked away.
She pushed her coffee aside.
"I'm tired of being the person who waits for you to decide if I'm worth staying for."
He reached for her hand.
She let him take it.
"I'm not running," he said. "Not this time."
She searched his face.
And hated how much she wanted to believe him.
"I'm not either," she admitted. "But I got an offer too."
His eyes widened slightly. "From where?"
"A fashion house in New York."
He swallowed hard.
"When were you going to tell me?"
She shrugged. "I don't know."
He pulled his hand back.
"So we're both hiding things now?"
She shook her head. "No. I was trying to figure out what I wanted."
"And did you?"
She hesitated.
"No."
He leaned back in his chair.
"This isn't fair to either of us."
She looked at him.
"No. It isn't."
---
Flashback – Lila's Last Message
That night, while Doris was out meeting Clara for drinks, Dante sat alone in the studio.
He opened an old folder on his computer labeled "Lila – Do Not Delete."
Inside were voice memos, lyrics, and one final voicemail.
He clicked play.
"Hey… it's me again. I know you're busy. I know you're trying to move on. But I just… I needed to hear your voice. Just once more. Please call me back. Please come home."
The message cut off.
Tears welled in his eyes.
He hadn't listened to that in years.
But tonight, he needed to remember why he had to fight for this—why he couldn't lose Doris the way he lost Lila.
When Doris returned, she found him sitting in the dark.
She sat beside him.
"You okay?"
He handed her his phone.
"Listen."
She pressed play.
When the message ended, she looked at him.
"She loved you."
He nodded. "And I loved her."
"But you didn't save her."
"No," he whispered. "I didn't."
She took his hand.
"You can't keep punishing yourself for that."
He looked at her. "I don't want to lose you the same way."
She kissed his cheek.
"You won't."
He pulled her close.
And held on like he never would again.
---
Clara's Warning – "Love Isn't Enough
The next day, Doris met Clara for lunch.
They sat in a quiet café near Marlowe & Co., sipping lattes and pretending everything was fine.
Clara set down her cup.
"You're not okay."
Doris frowned. "What?"
Clara gave her a knowing look. "You think you're hiding it well, but you're not. You're scared."
Doris tried to smile. "I'm not scared."
Clara tilted her head. "Then why are you looking at job offers outside London?"
Doris stiffened.
"How did you know?"
Clara sighed. "Because I saw Dante talking to someone from an LA label yesterday."
Doris looked down.
Clara leaned forward. "You two keep acting like silence is healing. It's not. It's breaking you."
Doris swallowed hard.
"I don't know if we're meant to be forever."
Clara gave her a soft smile. "Forever isn't written in stars. It's built every day. If you want it, you have to fight for it."
Doris nodded slowly.
"I do want it."
"Then stop letting fear win."
---
Confrontation – Who Are You Without Me?
That night, Doris confronted Dante.
They stood in the middle of their apartment, rain tapping gently against the windows.
"You knew I was thinking about leaving," she said.
He nodded. "Yes."
"And you didn't try to stop me."
He looked at her. "Would it have changed anything?"
She shook her head. "No. But I needed to know you cared enough to try."
He stepped closer. "I care more than you know."
She crossed her arms. "Then why does it feel like you're always holding back?"
He hesitated.
"I'm afraid."
She blinked. "Of what?"
"That if I give you everything, and you still leave… I won't survive it."
Her chest tightened.
"Dante…"
He looked at her. "I've lost people before. I don't know how to live after that kind of loss."
She reached for his hands.
"You don't have to live through it alone."
He searched her face.
"Do you really mean that?"
She nodded. "I do."
He pulled her into his arms.
And whispered:
"Then don't leave me."
She kissed him.
Softly.
Passionately.
Like she was promising him forever.
---
Midnight Decision – Final Offer
Later that night, Dante sat at his desk.
The email from LA was still open.
Subject: Final Offer – Producer Role
He read it again.
Then closed the laptop.
He turned to Doris, who was sketching quietly on the couch.
"I'm not going."
She looked up.
"What?"
He walked over and sat beside her.
"I'm not taking the job in LA."
Her eyes widened. "Why?"
He touched her face gently. "Because you're my home."
She swallowed hard.
"You don't have to choose me over your music."
"I'm not choosing. I'm staying."
She kissed him.
Harder this time.
Full of relief.
Full of gratitude.
Full of love.
"I love you," she whispered.
He kissed her forehead.
"I love you too."
---
First Promise
They made a new promise that night.
To communicate.
To trust.
To fight.
Even when it hurt.
Even when silence felt easier.
They held each other.
And for the first time in weeks…
They felt like a team again.
Not just lovers.
Not just partners.
A future.
Together.