I could work with that.
My thumbs hovered over the screen, ready to respond, to shape it, to steer it back into something manageable?—
Another message popped up.
Lo: You okay, bebê?
I’m fine. Just handling it.
The three dots appeared immediately.
Disappeared.
Came back.
Lo: What aren’t you telling us?
My throat went dry. I swallowed hard, my fingers moving before I could stop them.
I think I?—
I froze.
Stared at it.
The words looked wrong on the screen. Too open. Too real.
Too close to something I didn’t have a name for yet.
Delete.
My thumbs moved again.
Something happened?—
No.
Delete.
Another attempt.
I don’t know what this is?—
Delete.
I dropped my head back against the wall, closing my eyes for half a second before forcing them open again.
No. Not like this. Not now. Not when I didn’t even understandit myself.
My fingers steadied just enough to type something clean.
He was being difficult. I’ve got it under control. I’ll call you later.
Lucy: Figured. Don’t let him bulldoze you.
I locked my phone before I could change my mind, before I could reopen the thread and say something I couldn’t take back.
Before I could tell the truth.