Chapter 3 •Silent Spaces•

The office lights flickered out one by one as the end of the day approached. Maddie packed up her things and made her way to the subway station, her mind swirling with the weight of the day.

It had been a long one. Her new routine was taking shape, but a lingering emptiness she couldn’t quite shake followed her home.

Mark had been gone for almost two weeks now, traveling for business. She tried to focus on the positives—her new job was interesting, and she’d started to find a rhythm at work.

But every evening, the silence in her apartment reminded her of what was missing.

When she stepped inside, the quiet was deafening. Mark’s jacket hung over the back of the chair, his shoes neatly by the door, but he wasn’t there.

The absence of his presence was more profound than she’d expected. She set her bag down, grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, and leaned against the counter.

Her phone buzzed, and she reached for it, her heart flickering with hope. But it wasn’t Mark—it was Ethan.

Ethan: How’s the night treating you?

A smile tugged at her lips. Ethan’s easygoing messages had become a comforting constant over the past few weeks. She quickly typed a response.

Maddie: Quiet. Mark’s still away for work, so it’s just me tonight.

A reply came almost instantly.

Ethan: Sounds like the perfect time to relax. What’s the plan?

She glanced at the fridge, debating whether to cook.

Maddie: Probably dinner and some mindless TV. What about you?

Ethan: Takeout. As usual. If you need recommendations, I’m your guy.

Maddie laughed, setting her phone down for a moment as she rummaged through the pantry. A few minutes later, she decided on a simple stir-fry. As the vegetables sizzled in the pan, her thoughts drifted.

She used to cook with Mark. Even when their schedules were hectic, they’d find time to share a meal and talk about their day.

But now, their conversations were shorter, their texts more distant. When was the last time he’d asked her how she was doing?

Her phone buzzed again.

Ethan: Did you pick cooking over my stellar takeout advice? Bold choice.

Maddie grinned.

Maddie: Homemade stir-fry. Not bad, if I say so myself.

Ethan: Impressive. You’re officially putting my frozen pizza to shame.

She chuckled, the lightness of their exchange lifting her spirits. Ethan had a way of making her feel heard, even through a screen. It wasn’t something she thought about often, but lately, it was becoming harder to ignore.

After dinner, Maddie settled onto the couch, an old sitcom playing in the background. Her phone buzzed again, and for a moment, she hesitated. Would it be Ethan or Mark?

It was Ethan.

Ethan: How’s the stir-fry holding up? Any leftovers for tomorrow?

Maddie: All gone. You’ll have to stick to your pizza.

The conversation flowed effortlessly. Ethan’s texts felt warm and genuine, a sharp contrast to the perfunctory tone Mark’s messages had taken on. Speaking of which, her phone buzzed again, and this time, it was Mark.

Mark: Hey. Hope you had a good day. Heading to bed now—call tomorrow?

Maddie stared at the screen, her chest tightening. It was a perfectly polite message, but it lacked any real connection. He didn’t ask about her day, didn’t share anything about his own.

Her reply felt just as detached.

Maddie: Sure. Have a good night.

As she placed her phone down, a wave of guilt swept over her. It wasn’t fair to compare Ethan to Mark. But with Ethan, things were so effortless. He cared about the little things, the way Mark used to.

She sighed, her thoughts swirling as she turned off the TV and headed to bed. The weight of the silence returned, heavier than before. And yet, as she drifted off to sleep, it wasn’t Mark she was thinking about.

It was Ethan—and the way he’d made her smile on an otherwise quiet night.

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