I stood between them under the dim hallway light—Daniel inside my apartment, Ethan just outside the door. The silence was heavy, almost cruel.
"What's going on?" Ethan asked, his eyes flicking from me to Daniel.
Daniel's jaw tightened. "I think that's my question."
My heart pounded so hard I thought they could hear it. This was the moment I'd been avoiding. No more excuses. No more half-truths.
"I care about both of you," I said, my voice shaking. "And that's the problem."
Ethan's expression softened, but Daniel looked like he'd been struck.
"So I'm not enough?" Daniel asked quietly.
"That's not what I meant," I whispered, tears burning my eyes. But the damage was already done.
Daniel stepped back. "I need space," he said, walking past me without another word.
The door closed behind him, and something inside me shattered.
Ethan stayed.
He didn't touch me. He didn't say I told you so. He just sat beside me on the couch while I cried, my world unraveling thread by thread.
"You didn't do this to hurt anyone," he said gently. "You were just scared."
"But I hurt him anyway," I whispered.
Ethan looked at me then, really looked at me. "And what about you? Who's hurting for you?"
That question lingered long after he left.
Later that night, my phone buzzed. A message from Daniel.
I don't know if I can compete for your heart. But I love you enough to let you go… if that's what you want.
I stared at the screen, tears falling freely.
Because for the first time, I realized the truth wasn't about choosing between two people.
It was about choosing who I was brave enough to love.