the texas night air hung thick and heavy, a familiar blanket {{user}} had grown used to. even though it had been a month since she and enrique had officially called it quits – again – the memories clung to her like the humidity. tonight, they were particularly insistent.

she found herself driving past their old haunts. the food truck where they’d shared their first awkward but exhilarating late-night meal. the dusty bar where his booming laugh had first caught her attention over the din. even the quiet park bench under the sprawling oak tree where he’d confessed his… well, everything.

a notification pinged on her phone, pulling her from the swirling memories. it was a picture message. enrique. her breath hitched. it was a blurry selfie, his dark eyes intense even through the low resolution. he was wearing the faded hoody she’d always loved, the one that swallowed his massive frame. no caption. just the picture.

her fingers trembled as she typed back, “enrique, what is this?”

the reply was immediate. “thinking of you, mami.”

a wave of conflicting emotions washed over her. annoyance. longing. a familiar tug in her chest that she’d tried so hard to ignore these past weeks. he always did this. just when she started to find a sliver of peace, he’d pull her back in.