The next day felt slower.
Too slow.
Selena stood by the window, staring out at the city. Cars moved. People moved. Everything kept going. But somehow— she felt still. She sighed and turned away.
"Okay this is strange," she muttered to herself. She reached for her phone.
Then dialed.
It rang once
Twice.
"Selena!"
Julia's voice came through immediately. Selena smiled without thinking.
"Hi."
"Oh wow, she remembers us," Julia teased.
Selena laughed softly.
"I've been here barely days."
"Still counts."
"Where's grandma?"
"I'm right here," her grandmother's voice came in. Selena's smile softened.
"I miss you."
"We miss you too," her grandmother said gently. "The house is too quiet."
Selena sat down slowly.
"I didn't think I'd miss it this much."
"You just left," Julia said. "Relax."
Selena shook her head even though they couldn't see her.
"It's not just that. It's… everything."
"What do you mean?"
Selena hesitated.
"It's different here. Like… really different."
Julia laughed.
"Of course it is. It's the city."
"No, I mean—" Selena paused. "It's not loud like I thought. It's just… a lot."
That got a small silence.
"You'll get used to it," her grandmother said.
"I don't know if I want to 'get used to it,'" Selena admitted.
"Then don't," Emilia's voice cut in suddenly.
Selena blinked.
"You're there too?"
"Of course I am," Emilia said. "Where else would I be?"
Selena smiled.
"I can picture all of you."
"Good," Emilia replied. "Then don't forget us when you become rich and famous."
Selena laughed.
"That's not happening."
"You're already in that world," Julia said.
Selena went quiet for a second.
"Yeah…"
There was a pause.
Then Julia spoke again.
"Oh—and guess what?"
Selena frowned slightly.
"What?"
"Mom came back."
Selena froze.
"What?"
"Yeah. She showed up two days ago"
Selena sat up straighter.
"And?"
"She stayed for a bit. Then left again."
"Left again?"
Julia sighed.
"Apparently things didn't work out with that man."
Selena didn't say anything.
"She asked about you," her grandmother added softly.
Selena looked down.
"And what did you say?"
"That you're doing well," Julia said.
Selena swallowed.
"I don't even know if that's true."
"It is," Emilia said firmly. "You just don't see it yet."
Selena leaned back.
"I feel out of place."
"Good," Emilia replied.
Selena blinked.
"What?"
"It means you're somewhere new."
Julia laughed.
"Exactly. You've spent your whole life being comfortable. Try something else."
Selena sighed.
"I don't know if I can do this."
"Yes, you can," her grandmother said gently.
"Go and see the world, Selena. You've done enough for us."
Selena's chest tightened slightly.
"I just don't want to lose this."
"You won't," Emilia said.
"Unless you choose to."
Then Julia added
"And if that man is treating you right, then stay."
Selena blinked.
"He is."
"Then what's the problem?"
Selena didn't answer immediately.
"I don't know," she admitted quietly.
Then Emilia said
"Don't run just because it feels unfamiliar."
Selena closed her eyes briefly.
"Okay."
"Say it like you mean it."
Selena let out a breath.
"Okay."
"That's better," Julia said.
A small smile returned to Selena's face.
"I'll call again."
"You better," Emilia replied.
The call ended.
The room went quiet again. Selena stared at her phone for a long moment. Then set it down slowly.
"Okay…"
She exhaled.
"I'm not running."
But even as she said it, she wasn't sure if she believed it yet. And somehow that scared her a
She dropped the phone beside her and leaned back into the couch.
The room felt quiet again. The door opened a few minutes later. Selena didn't turn immediately. She heard him walk in, the faint sound of his shoes against the floor, the soft clink of something being set down.
"You're back," she said after a moment, still looking ahead.
"Mm."
His response was low, absent-minded. Like his attention was somewhere else. She finally glanced over. He had already moved past her, placing his phone on the table, rolling his sleeves slightly not rushed, just settling into the space. Selena watched him for a second before looking away again.
"How was your day?" she asked.
"Busy."
"That sounds about right."
Then he glanced at her.
"Yours?"
Selena hesitated.
"Quiet."
"Anneline"?
" I'm not sure where she's at" Selena answered.
He nodded once, like that was enough.
"I called home."
"I didn't think I'd miss it that much"
"You've been there your whole life," he said.
"Yeah."
"That doesn't go away in a few days."
Selena let out a small breath.
"I know. I just thought… I'd handle it better."
"You are."
She glanced at him.
"This is me handling it well?"
"It is."
That made her almost laugh.
"That's a bit disappointing."
A faint hint of a smile touched his face.
"Adjusting isn't clean."
She tilted her head slightly.
"That sounds like experience talking."
"It is."
Selena studied him for a second.
"You don't seem like someone who struggles with adjusting."
"I do."
She raised a brow.
"I don't believe that."
"That doesn't make it untrue."
A small silence followed. Then she looked away again.
"I hate that I always feel so out of place here."
"You are."
She let out a soft sigh.
"You're not very comforting, you know that?"
"I'm not trying to be."
That made her glance back at him. And for some reason that honesty landed better than reassurance would have. He stepped a little closer not invading her space, just closing some of the distance.
"You don't have to fit into it immediately," he added.
Selena nodded slowly.
"And if I never do?"
He shrugged slightly.
"Then you decide what matters more."
She held his gaze.
"That sounds like a difficult choice."
"It usually is."
A quiet pause settled again.
"I almost didn't come."
"I know."
Her brows pulled slightly.
"You do?"
"You paused on the call."
She blinked.
"I thought I hid that."
"You didn't."
A small smile tugged at her lips.
"Noted."
"I'm glad you did."
She looked at him. Really looked this time. There was no pressure in his tone. No expectation.
Just truth.
Selena's chest tightened slightly.
"I'm still deciding if I am," she admitted.
"You will."
She shook her head lightly.
"You always sound so sure."
"I usually am."
"That's a little annoying."
"Sometimes."
That pulled a small laugh out of her. And just like that the tension eased. Not completely.
But enough. Selena leaned back slightly, her voice quieter now.
"I'm not running."
He nodded once.
"Alright."
And somehow, this time, it didn't feel like she was trying to convince herself.