The bar was noisy, filled with laughter and clinking glasses. Autumn sat in the corner, nursing a glass of red wine, watching her friends chatter about dates, weekend plans, and new flings.
"You've got to put yourself out there, Autumn," Jenna said, swirling her drink. "You can't keep hiding in your work forever."
Autumn forced a smile. "It's not hiding."
"Then what is it?" Maya asked, leaning in. "I mean, you never bring anyone home. We hardly see you on weekends anymore."
She looked away, the weight settling heavy in her chest. "It's complicated."
Jenna tilted her head, concern softening her eyes. "Do you want to talk about it?"
She shook her head. "Not tonight."
Later, walking home beneath streetlights that blurred in the drizzle, Autumn felt the cold press against her skin, but inside, it was a different kind of chill.
She pulled her coat tighter and thought about Alain. About how she had loved him so fiercely, only to have that love shattered by his lies.
The memory of his voice haunted her. "You're too intense, Autumn. I can't oversee it."
Her steps quickened, her breath catching. The pain of his absence felt like a shadow trailing her, never quite leaving.
At her apartment, she pulled out her journal and flipped to a blank page. Her pen hovered, then scratched out a few tentative lines.
"Maybe I'm broken. Maybe I'm too much."
She erased the words. No, she wasn't broken. Not yet.
Tears blurred her vision as the rain pattered softly against the window. The loneliness inside her was vast, but she held it close, like a secret she wasn't ready to share.