Chapter 20: The Space Between Us
The plate in my hands had long since been cleaned, rinsed, and scrubbed to the point where any remaining molecules of food had likely been erased from existence. Yet, there I stood, mind elsewhere, staring into the swirl of soap bubbles sliding down the ceramic surface like they held the answers to my problems.
The gentle tap on my back jolted me from my spiraling thoughts, my muscles tensing instinctively before I realized it was just Sienna. She stood behind me, her head tilted slightly, an amused yet concerned look on her face.
"You've been washing that plate for a while now," she said softly, her voice light but laced with curiosity.
I blinked down at the dish, noticing how the water had cooled and my fingertips were pruned. Forcing a chuckle, I shrugged it off. "Ah, yeah... just being thorough. You know—germaphobe tendencies."
Sienna didn't buy it, not entirely. She gave a small pout, crossing her arms over her chest. "Uh-huh. Sure. Thorough." Her eyes lingered on me a moment longer, sharp enough to see through the deflection, but she didn't push. "Well, Mr. Thorough, we've got boxes to unpack unless you're planning to sterilize the entire apartment."
I was grateful she let it go. For now.
We spent the early morning surrounded by the remnants of my old life—boxes filled with sparse belongings, faded papers, and the few things she'd insisted I buy during our mall trip. Important documents were sorted into neat stacks while random items were tucked into drawers or shelves. It was strange, seeing my life condensed into so little, now scattered across an apartment that felt too big for it. Too clean. Too... new.
But Sienna's presence made it feel less hollow.
As it approached work time, we departed together, strolling alongside one another as if it were the most normal thing ever. The construction site welcomed us with the familiar noise of equipment and shouted commands, dust drifting gently through the fresh morning air. No sign of Evelyn. No sign of any evaluator, for that matter.
Good. I needed more time.
I wasn't going to waste it.