He didn't say anything.
Not immediately.
He just stood there holding my wrist lightly, like if he loosened his grip even a little, I'd disappear.
And maybe I would.
Because right now?
Running felt easier than staying.
"Mira…" he said quietly.
But I was already shaking my head.
"No. Don't start with my name like that."
"Like what?"
"Like you're about to say something soft that'll make me forgive you again."
His hand slowly dropped from my wrist.
That hurt more than it should've.
"I'm not trying to manipulate you," he said.
"I know," I replied. "That's the problem. You're not even trying to hurt me… but you still are."
He looked lost.
Actually lost.
Like he didn't even know where the mistake started.
And honestly?
Maybe he didn't.
Because sometimes people don't hurt you on purpose.
They just don't love you the way you need.
And that hurts worse.
"You think I don't see it?" I continued. My voice softer now. Tired. "The way you look at her? The way you two talk? It's like there's this whole world you shared that I can't enter."
"It's just memories—"
"But they matter!" I snapped.
He went quiet.
I stepped back, hugging myself.
"I feel stupid, Ethan. Sitting there while you both laugh about 'that time' and 'that trip' and 'that fight.' Where was I in all that? Nowhere."
He ran his hands through his hair again.
Frustrated.
"I can't erase my past, Mira. What do you want me to do?"
"I don't want you to erase it!" I said. "I just… I just don't want to feel second place."
That word hung between us.
Second place.
Like a medal nobody wants.
"I'm not making you second place," he said.
"But that's how it feels."
Silence.
Cars passed behind us.
People walked by.
Life moving normally while mine felt like it was cracking open.
"You know what scares me the most?" I asked quietly.
"What?"
"That if she said 'come back,' you wouldn't even hesitate."
His head snapped up. "That's not true."
"You don't even sound sure."
"I am sure!"
"Then why do you look guilty every time she calls?"
He opened his mouth.
Closed it.
No answer.
And that?
That was my answer.
My chest tightened so badly it felt hard to breathe.
I nodded slowly.
"Yeah," I whispered. "That's what I thought."
"Mira, stop twisting things—"
"I'm not twisting anything!" My voice broke. "I'm just tired."
Tired of pretending I'm cool.
Tired of acting understanding.
Tired of fighting ghosts.
"I like you too much to keep feeling like this," I said.
That was the most honest thing I'd said all day.
His expression softened immediately.
"Then stay," he said. "We'll fix it."
"You keep saying that. But nothing changes."
"It will."
"When?"
He froze.
Because love doesn't work on 'soon.'
It's either now… or never.
I swallowed hard.
My heart beating so loud I could hear it in my ears.
Then I said the one thing I'd been scared to say since the beginning.
"Choose me."
He blinked. "What?"
"Choose me," I repeated. "Not half. Not maybe. Not 'I'm trying.' Choose me properly."
"I already am—"
"No. Listen." My voice shook, but I forced the words out. "If you want me, then stop acting like you're still responsible for her feelings. Stop running every time she calls. Stop treating her like she's still yours."
"She's not mine—"
"Then let her go."
Silence.
Real silence.
The heavy kind.
The kind where everything depends on the next sentence.
"You can't keep both of us," I said softly. "You can't have your past and your present at the same time. It's not fair."
He stared at me like I'd just asked him to cut off his arm.
But love isn't just feelings.
It's decisions.
Hard ones.
"I'm not asking you to hate her," I continued. "I'm just asking you to stop holding onto something that's already over."
He looked down at the ground.
Thinking.
And that scared me.
Because if choosing me takes this long…
Am I even the right choice?
Minutes felt like hours.
Then he said quietly,
"You don't understand."
My heart dropped.
"Understand what?"
"She was there when nobody else was. When my dad left. When everything fell apart. She's not just an ex, Mira. She's… history. Family almost."
That word hit.
Family.
How do you compete with family?
You don't.
You lose.
Tears burned my eyes again.
I laughed softly, broken.
"See?" I whispered. "That's exactly why I'm scared."
He looked up quickly. "But that doesn't mean I love her like that anymore."
"But you still can't let her go."
He didn't answer.
And that silence said everything.
So I nodded slowly.
Like my heart finally understood something my brain already knew.
Maybe timing is just wrong.
Maybe we met at the wrong moment.
Maybe I came into his life before he finished closing the last chapter.
"I can't do this," I said quietly.
His head snapped up. "Do what?"
"Compete with a ghost."
"Mira—"
"I really like you," I whispered. "But I love myself too."
That one hurt to say.
Because walking away from someone you like?
That's pain you choose for yourself.
And nobody talks about how hard that is.
"So until you're sure," I continued, stepping back, "until you can look at me without hesitation… don't come looking for me."
His eyes widened.
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying… choose me when you're ready."
My voice cracked.
"Or let me go for real."
And this time?
I turned around first.
Before he could stop me.
Before he could say my name in that soft voice that ruins all my decisions.
Because if I stayed one more second…
I would've folded.
And I'm tired of folding.
And behind me?
For the first time since I met Ethan…
He didn't chase.