Lines We Shouldn't Cross

fore. Michael and I grew closer with each passing moment, our

xt meeting, my heart racing at the

came routine, a wel

ichael stopped suddenly, turning to me with that familiar, intense gaze that always made m

strange mix of excitement and nervou

this, feels...different. Special." His hand reached for mine, and I didn't pull away.

rounding me in that moment. I felt a thrill run through me-a spark that seemed to spread, igniting s

t relief, and in that instant, the spa

lding mine, his gaze holding a quest

ped forward, closing the space between us, f

ushing a strand of hair from my face

only the two of us in a bubble of s

ook my breath away. The kiss was soft, hesitant, as if we were both

ions that had been building for so long-de

the small of my back, drawing me clo

ach other. Every touch, every gentle movement felt meaningful, as though we were spea

her, our faces flushed. I could see the same emotions mirror

ant shiver down my spine. "I don't want to complic

ething more than either of us had anticipated-a

, and shared laughter. We spent hours talking, our words flowing effortle

uiet bench, gazing up at the stars. Michael's arm was w

elt truly at peace, as if everything in

ade my heart swell. Without a word, he leaned in again, his lips capt

permission to let go, to surrender

older, our touche

me closer, his touch igniting a fire

just a fleeting attraction. It was something real,

ur breaths mingling, our hearts beating in sync. And as the night de

the memory of our time together. The world seemed brighter, more vibran

harted territory, and the path ahead was uncertain. But for the

shared glance filled with a promise that only we understood. We kept our

found a happiness that was ours alone,

t radiated from within. Michael had become a part of me, a part of my w

moment. It was as if time had slowed down, giving us a chance to sa

, something else was happening-something that mad

if you could even call it that, felt delicate, as though

as an established author, known for his

meone who had built her career on being

ble not to notice the small things: the whispers when we passed each other in hallways, th

cial, yet it felt like the campus

ing with Michael at our usual café, I couldn't sha

rying to focus only on the present, but the weight

ndow, staring out at the city's twinkling lights. I

mile of his, but something in his eyes was different. There was

tly, his voice low

ne that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

ver leaving mine. "I've been thinking a

on, but I can't keep pretending that this is

, his hand reaching across the table to take mine. His fingers were warm, rea

on here. I'm not sure how long we can keep this under wra

've been thinking the same thing." I squeezed his hand,

don't want to put you in a position where you

I don't want to choose either. I don't want you to have to choose. But

tinue like this? Or did we have to face the reality of what our r

before I could stop them. I met his gaze, my heart pounding in my

"I understand. And I'm not asking you to throw everyt

e living in a gray area, and I don't

just some passing fling, something that could be hidden away in the corners of our lives. What we had was rea

of us fully knowing what to do next. Michael walked me to my car, his hand ge

sudden surge of emotion. "Michael," I said softly

he time you need, Eva. I'm not going anywhere. But I can't keep pretending that this

with the truth of his words. "I

r closing with a soft thud as I drove away, l

ied to focus on my work-on the lectures I had to prepare and the

hat night, the seriousness in his voice. It was clear that w

y colleagues continued to treat me with the same polite indif

couldn't ignore. I caught whispers in the hall

d was spreading, and I had no idea how

of my colleagues, Dr. Olivia Stone. She was an older pro

ng a little too curious ab

of curiosity and something else I couldn't quite place. "I

. How much did she know?

feigning ignorance. "Oh, you know. Coffee dates, long con

ice steady. "We're just friends," I sa

ily. "Is that all?" she asked, her gaze sharp. "Be

smile, though it felt forced. "It's com

ion unreadable. "I don't want to be the one t

lso dangerous. He's got a reputation, you

or fear. But I couldn't let her see it. I stood tall, meeting her gaze. "I'll kee

I couldn't undo. The tension in the air was growing thicker, and I knew that we were no longer just dealing with our own emotions. The

ened, everything w

tarting to take its toll on me. I woke up every morning feeling t

around the university, the questioning looks from my colleag

worth it, Michael. No matter how heavy everything got, b

could finally breathe. But as much as I wanted to ho

a way to live. We couldn't go on pretending that

, and I knew that soon we would

felt heavier than usual. I walked into my office earl

everything feel more intense. As I opened the door to m

crossed, looking at me with that serious

ut full of something else-something I c

d me and took a deep

, silently asking if I wanted to sit.

lot. I can't keep pretending this is just some secret thing, Eva. The

t. "What are you saying?" I asked

iding. I know it's risky, but I'm done pretending. We're too good together to keep i

an to creep in. What would happen if we stopped hiding? What

hick with emotion. "But you're right. It'

ss in it. "I've never been afraid of taking risk

think. I've worked so hard for this career, Michael. Every

nymore. Not in the shadows, not with our hearts in chains. I'm tired of waiting for

. But the fear of the unknown was overwhelming. What would happ

id, my voice barely audible. "I

ross the desk to take my hand. "You won't lose me

hope. Maybe he was right. Maybe we didn't have to keep hiding, and maybe e

rything had started. It felt like a lifetime ago, yet everything between us had changed. There

é casting long shadows around us. Michael took a deep

ching my cheek softly, "was never just about us sneaking around. It'

imple yet so powerful. I had spent so long hiding, so long keep

felt like I was finally

at too," I

ips brushing against my forehead. "Then we

touch, I knew that things would never be the sa

going back. The tension in the air was thick, but for

whatever came

like a whirlwind. Michael and I were no longer sn

while that felt freeing, it a

alcy in the halls of the university, not wanting to give anyo

ents who had been in our classes. Then, one by one,

. The tension in the air seemed thicker each day, and every time I looked into M

g. The rumors were already starting. It wasn't just t

lty lounge, exchanging looks when Michael and

ised eyebrows-it was all adding up. It was on

cture, I was walking back to my office when I saw

made me feel small. He caught my gaze as I appro

nd polite, but with an underlyi

. There was something in the way he said my name

sked, trying to sound confident des

. "I hear you've been spending quite a bit of time with Michael Grey,"

hel and I are colleagues. We've be

he could see right through me. "Is that so? Becaus

t. He was baiting me, and I knew it. But I refused

rd," I said evenly, "but I can assu

ecause I'm hearing a lot of whispers

he face. Affair. The one word that could ruin

firmly, though doubt gnawe

ttling interest. "You know, Eva, it's dangerous t

e been working closely with hi

was finally here. The rumors were no longer whispers in th

ate my life," I said, trying to keep my voic

ber, Eva, the higher you climb, the harder you fall. And it wouldn't sur

y chest. His words stuck in my mind,

but now it seemed like it was inevitable. The storm was coming

pile of papers scattered across his desk. He looked up as I ent

e asked, standing up a

the door behind me and leaned against it, my eyes

gent. "People are starting to talk. Professor

w this would happen," he muttered. "I knew it was o

ore I could stop them. "But I don't know what to do. If th

mine as if weighing something in his mind. Finally, he sp

not going to let fear keep us a

ween us. "But what if it's not just us? Wha

"We'll face it together. Whatever happens, we'll de

wed myself to feel a sense of peace. Maybe he was ri

ere about to face the storm, and I wasn't s

I ever could have imagined. The students talked behind our backs, and the

nd judgment. It was like we were living in a fish

hing, I found myself dr

I realized just how much I cared for him. The