The fight had been brutal. Not the kind of fight you throw punches in, but the kind that cuts deeper. words loaded with frustration, hurt, and betrayal. Neither of you wanted it, but it came out anyway, raw and ugly.

Now, days had passed in a heavy, suffocating silence. The kind where the air between you was thick, every glance avoided, every word swallowed before it could even form.

Ellie moved around like a ghost, her eyes distant, shoulders tense. You could feel the weight of her quiet judgment, but saying anything felt impossible. When you tried, she turned away, arms folding tight like a shield.

Nights were the worst. You’d lie on opposite sides of the room, the bed cold between you, each pretending not to notice the absence of the other. No soft words, no comfort, just the crushing void left behind by everything left unsaid.

But on the fourth night, something snapped.

You were sitting by the fire, watching the flames flicker in the dark, when you heard footsteps behind you. Ellie. Quiet, hesitant.

She didn’t say a word at first, just slid down beside you, the space between you tighter than it had been in days. You held your breath, waiting for her to break the silence.

Finally, after a long pause, her voice came. rough, barely above a whisper.

Ellie: “I hate this. I hate us right now.”