Page 61 of My December Darling

There she goes again, diminishing whatever small connection we are forming in an obvious attempt at self-preservation.

I’m not sure what changed in the time between our kiss on her porch and now, outside of the obvious issue of me blowing off our coffee date, but I’m not about to give up just because Catalina is back to creating distance.

Me

I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings by not showing up last night.

Her text is instantaneous.

Catalina

I never said you did.

Me

No, but if I were in your shoes, I’d be annoyed and put off.

Me

And if it didn’t hurt your feelings, please take it easy on me today and pretend it did?

Catalina

Is this an ego thing?

Me

No. It’s a self-conscious thing.

Might as well be forthcoming and hope for the best.

Catalina

Fine. Maybe it bothered me a little bit.

Catalina

A TINY little bit.

Catalina

But it also scared me because I realized I cared.

Her honesty is refreshing because it shows that I still have a fighting chance against whatever scared her enough to pull away in the first place, so I decide to return her truthfulness with some vulnerability of my own.

Me

I’m sorry. I lost a patient last night.

Her reply takes two seconds.

Catalina

I’m so sorry.

Another message pops up before I can reply.

Catalina

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