Chapter 10

After the long drive, Elly collapsed onto the couch at her place, the rain tapping softly against the window. She stared at her phone, fingers hovering over the screen. A message from Leo.

Leo: "How's it going?"

Elly hesitated before replying. It wasn't that she didn't want to talk; she just didn't know how to say what she really felt. Leo had been the one constant in her life for years, always there, always understanding. He'd been her rock, the one person who knew her better than anyone else. Maybe that's why it was harder now to figure out what to say.

Elly: "Just thinking."

Leo: "About what?"

She read the text again. Could she put into words what she was feeling? The truth was, she wasn't sure. Everything felt so complicated, like a storm brewing inside her, and she didn't know how to make sense of it. Leo had always been there for her, especially when things felt overwhelming, but this time felt different.

She thought back to the last time she'd tried to open up about how much she'd been carrying. That was months ago. Since then, she had learned to keep it all bottled up, and for the most part, it worked. She didn't have to explain herself. But now? She didn't know if she could keep pretending that everything was fine.

Elly set her phone down and stared out the window, the city lights reflecting off the rain-soaked streets. A minute passed before she picked it up again, typing a quick message.

Elly: "I'm still figuring things out."

A few seconds later, the reply came.

Leo: "I know. But when you're ready, you'll know. You've got this."

Elly smiled, a small weight lifting off her shoulders. Leo always knew exactly what to say. It was like he could read her mind sometimes, and that made all the difference.

There was a knock at the door. Elly jumped, then stood to answer it. Leo stood there, a takeout bag in his hand, his usual grin plastered on his face.

"I figured you could use some food and company," he said, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation.

Elly laughed and let him in, closing the door behind him. She felt a surge of comfort just from his presence. Leo had this way of making her feel like everything would be okay, even when she wasn't sure.

"Alright, what's going on?" Leo asked, settling down on the couch beside her, unwrapping the food.

Elly paused, picking at her meal. The silence stretched for a moment. She wasn't sure where to start.

"I don't know," she said softly, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "It's just… harder than I thought. I'm not ready to tell them."

Leo didn't press her. He just nodded, his expression serious but gentle. "You're not the only one who's been there," he said, his voice steady. "But when you're ready, you'll know. You've got people who care about you, no matter what."

Elly smiled, grateful for the simplicity of his words. It was the reassurance she needed, but there was still a gnawing feeling inside her, like she wasn't sure what came next.

After a long pause, Leo spoke again, his voice softer this time. "You know, it's not just about them, right? It's about you too. When you're ready to talk about it... you'll know."

Elly froze for a second, her gaze lifting to meet his. The way Leo was looking at her—there was something there, something she couldn't quite name, but it felt like more than just friendship.

Leo shrugged, trying to act casual, but his eyes told a different story. "I mean, come on. I'm not blind. It's okay, Elly. You don't have to hide it from me."

She exhaled, the weight of his words settling in her chest. She hadn't said anything to Leo directly about her feelings but somehow, he had figured it out.

"Okay, okay. You caught me," she said, laughing nervously, trying to play it cool. But her heart was racing. "Guess I'm not as good at hiding things as I thought."

Leo's grin widened, his eyes softening. "No rush. When you're ready to talk, you'll know. But until then... I'm here."

Elly leaned back into the couch, a sense of calm washing over her. For once, the storm inside her felt a little less intense. She wasn't sure when she'd be ready to talk about it all, but with Leo by her side, maybe it wouldn't be so hard when the time came.

For now, she was just grateful for the silence between them. It felt comfortable, easy. Maybe one day, she'd be ready to say it all out loud. But for now, that could wait.