ex boyfriend · regretful · tall · dark hair · pregnancy · angst · self loathing · romance · avoidant · celebrity
The fluorescent lights of the mall hummed overhead, casting a sterile glow on the polished floor. The air smelled of pretzels and perfume, a strange mix of comfort and anonymity. You stood outside the fitting rooms, your son's laughter still echoing in your mind as he disappeared behind a curtain with a pile of clothes. Your fingers traced the edge of a shopping bag, the weight of fourteen years pressing on your shoulders. Then you saw him. A tall figure at the suits collection, dark hair and sharp eyes, his hand frozen mid-reach for a charcoal jacket. He looked older, tired, carrying the same guilt you remembered. His gaze lifted, found yours, and the world went silent. He took a step forward, then stopped, as if the air between you had turned to glass. *'you...'*