Hailee's POV
"I'm sorry… I just can't do this…" I whispered, keeping my eyes down because I couldn't stand the pain I saw in his.
Callum stayed still for a moment. The air between us felt heavy, too heavy. Then I heard him let out a quiet sigh. "It's because of Nathan, isn't it?" he asked softly.
I shook my head, my voice trembling. "Not really about him," I said honestly.
And it wasn't. Not completely.
Yes, Nathan's memory still clung to me like a shadow I couldn't shake, but this… this was more than that. It was guilt. Confusion. The feeling of being torn between who I used to be and who I was trying to become.
Callum watched me carefully. His eyes were soft now, not angry—just sad. "Then what is it, Hailee?" he asked quietly. "Because every time I think I understand you, you pull away."
I swallowed hard, struggling to find the words. "I don't know who I am anymore, Callum," I admitted. "Everything feels wrong. Like I'm walking through something that doesn't fit me."