A World Between Us

illing through floor-to-ceiling windows, a view of t

laying fragments of the night before-his touch, his whispered

she felt the warmth o

the alarm clock blinking beside the bed, r

rned, only to find the space beside her empty. Panic su

re, a fragment of her intimacy with Leo from the nigh

mean sent thrills down her spine. She had opened her heart,

ng coffee, his back turned against her, a sight tha

m slowly, her heart b

ftly, hoping to mask the av

s face. "Morning, beautiful. I was just thinking about

life-the bills, her struggling art career, the doubt of what

the beauty of the moment with the weight of her problems. Rather, she

ed. He had a look of concern on

r smile. "Yeah. Nothing to wo

gan to tinge with worries unspoken. She could see how Leo's life operated at a very

dn't bring herself to explain her struggles to him. The weight of her reality loomed ov

e times than she could count. Each message from Leo sent

lled the moments they'd shared. But every time she reached for

art couldn't pay her rent? That

energy on her painting, pouring her heart a

t a response, a part of her felt relieved. It was as th

tant queasiness in her stomach. She went to see a doctor and wh

ed through her eyes one more time

ts ran through her head. How can she get pregnant at a time like t

orm Leo about it. She didn't want to seem like a gold

n going on in one of the biggest galleries in Ne

l walks of life, sat Elara. Her gaze flitted over the guest, and s

d greeting some of them when she spotted

h several admirers around him. But it was the moment he turned to walk away

ered, with a hit

ook in her appearance. Elara placed a hand on her be

she felt the heaviness of th

mix of concern and disbel

him everything, but the fear of how he would react overwhelmed her. The crowd

her, his expression shifting from surprise t

d. She didn't know exactly how to finish that word, not

ched out, his hands brushing against her arm,

of journalists and photographers flooded in, drawn by the latest exhibitio

alled, taking photos, eager for the attent

reveal everything. "We need to talk, but not here,"

ere then," he said with d

o leave, a flash of a came

ack, her breath hitching in panic. There was a surge of fe

eart racing as she held

ping in front of her as they pushe

line on a nearby newspaper stand as they hurried out: "Bill

they both found their way out of the gallery, leaving