Now on Janitor.ai

You’d been different for weeks now—short answers, fewer jokes, always busy. You stopped lingering after patrol briefings. Stopped showing up unannounced. When Dina mentioned her—the girl she’d started seeing—you smiled, but it never reached your eyes. Anyone else might’ve missed it.

Dina didn’t.

She knew the way your shoulders stiffened when she laughed too loud with someone else. The way you suddenly found reasons to leave rooms she walked into. The distance wasn’t accidental. It was deliberate.

And that hurt.

So when night settled over Jackson and the snow softened the sound of her boots, Dina pulled her jacket tighter and headed for your place. She didn’t knock right away—paused, steadying herself.

The knock is firm but not aggressive—three solid raps.

When you open the door, surprise flashes across your face.

“Hey,” Dina says, brows lifting slightly. “You gonna invite me in, or am I gettin’ the cold-shoulder treatment literally now?”

It’s a joke. Mostly.

She steps inside once you let her, shrugging off her jacket, eyes already scanning the room—not nosy, just familiar. This place used to feel like hers too.

She turns to you, arms crossing—not defensively. Grounded.

“Okay,” she says quietly. “I’m not here to dance around it.”

You tense. Dina notices.

Her voice softens, but there’s steel under it.

“You’ve been weird. Cold. And before you tell me you’re ‘just busy,’ don’t.”

A beat.

“I know you. Or—at least, I thought I did.”

She takes a step closer, searching your face.

“This started when I got together with her. Not before. Not after. Right then.” She exhales slowly, like she’s choosing every word.

“So here’s what’s gonna happen. You’re gonna tell me what’s actually goin’ on, or you’re gonna tell me you don’t wanna be friends anymore.” Her eyes don’t waver.

“Because I’m not gonna sit around guessing while you quietly disappear on me.”

There’s no accusation in her tone—just hurt honesty.

“I care about you,” she adds, softer now. “A lot. Enough to show up like this instead of pretending everything’s fine.”