Chapter 36: XXXVI

Chapter 36: Silence Between Us

Elena stared at her phone screen, her thumb hovering over the text message she’d just typed to Riley. She had sent it hours ago, and there had been no response. It wasn’t like Riley to leave her hanging for this long, especially after the way they’d been so close just days ago. Elena felt a knot form in her stomach as she unlocked her phone again, checking for any missed calls or notifications. Nothing.

She bit her lip, her gaze falling to the empty spot on her bed where Riley had sat only a week ago, laughing and joking. It felt like a lifetime ago now. She’d tried calling twice and texted a few more times, but there was no reply. No explanation. Just... silence.

The worst part was that Elena didn’t know why. What had changed?

“Hey,” came a familiar voice from the doorway. Danny stood there, leaning casually against the frame with his arms crossed, his eyes studying her closely. Elena looked up at him, her expression strained.

“Hey,” she replied quietly, trying to force a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

Danny’s gaze softened as he walked over to sit beside her on the bed. “You okay?”

Elena shook her head, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. “No. I don’t know what’s going on with Riley. She’s been avoiding me.”

“Is she mad at you?” Danny asked, his tone more curious than anything.

“I don’t know,” Elena replied, her voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t think so. At least, she hasn’t said anything. She’s just... gone quiet. I tried texting, calling, even showed up at her place. Nothing. She won’t answer.”

Danny frowned, his brows furrowing in concern. “That’s odd. Have you talked to her about it?”

Elena shook her head again. “I don’t know how. I don’t want to make her feel pressured or make her think I’m suffocating her, but I’m so confused. She’s always been so open, and now it’s like she’s a stranger.”

There was a long pause before Danny spoke again, his voice more gentle now. “You know, maybe she’s going through something. People don’t always act the way we expect when they’re struggling with something personal.”

Elena nodded slowly, taking in his words. “I thought about that too, but I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to push her, but I also don’t want to just keep waiting around without knowing what’s going on.”

Danny shifted, glancing down at his hands before meeting her gaze again. “I get it. But sometimes, when we pull away from people, we need a little nudge to realize that someone cares enough to reach out. She might just need some space to figure things out. Or maybe she’s scared of something. It’s not always about you, you know.”

“I guess you’re right,” Elena murmured, glancing back down at her phone, the screen now filled with unsent messages. “I just... miss her. I miss how things were before. And I don’t want to lose that.”

Danny gave her a soft, reassuring smile. “You’re not going to lose her, okay? You just need to give it a little time. And when you’re ready, you talk to her. Don’t rush it. You’ve been there for each other through everything else, right? I’m sure you’ll get through this too.”

Elena let out a deep breath, leaning back against the bedframe. “Yeah. Yeah, you’re right. I just feel like I’m stuck in this limbo, not knowing what’s going on in her head.”

Danny paused for a moment, his gaze thoughtful. “Maybe... maybe you should let her know that you’re there for her, even if she’s not ready to talk yet. Let her know that she’s still important to you, but that you won’t force anything.”

Elena’s eyes brightened slightly as she considered his words. “You think that’ll help?”

“I think it’s worth a shot,” Danny said with a nod. “It’ll let her know that you respect her space but still care.”

Elena stood up from the bed, pacing around the room for a moment as her mind raced. “I guess I could send her one more message... something like that. Just to let her know I’m not going anywhere.”

“That’s the spirit,” Danny said, giving her an encouraging smile. “And hey, if she needs more time, give her that. She might just need to work through some stuff on her own.”

Elena nodded, her fingers hovering over her phone. She let out a deep breath before typing out the message, her heart pounding in her chest.

Elena: “Hey, I don’t know what’s going on, but I just want you to know that I’m here for you, whenever you’re ready. I miss you, and I don’t want to lose this, whatever this is between us. Take your time, but don’t forget I’m right here.”

She stared at the screen for a moment, her thumb hovering over the send button, but her hand was shaking. What if this made things worse? What if Riley didn’t feel the same?

With a deep breath, she pressed send, watching the message disappear into the digital void. There was no going back now.

As soon as the message was sent, Elena collapsed back onto the bed, her heart still racing in her chest. She didn’t know if it would make any difference, but at least she had tried. She had let Riley know that she wasn’t going anywhere, that she wasn’t going to just disappear without a fight.

Danny stood up, his eyes full of understanding as he patted her shoulder. “You did the right thing, Elena. Don’t second-guess yourself.”

She nodded silently, taking in his words, but the knot in her stomach remained.

“I just... I don’t know how long I can wait,” she admitted, her voice low. “I don’t know how much more silence I can take.”

“I get it,” Danny said, his voice quiet but steady. “But sometimes, silence is a sign that someone needs time to figure themselves out. You just have to trust that things will work out.”

“Yeah,” Elena muttered, her fingers absently picking at the edge of the blanket. “I guess I just feel like I’m losing her, even though she’s right there. Like I’m slipping through her fingers.”

Danny’s eyes softened with sympathy. “If it helps, you’re not losing her. You just need to wait, and in the meantime, take care of yourself, too. Don’t lose sight of you in the process.”

Elena exhaled sharply, finally looking up at him. “I just don’t know what to do, Danny. I’ve never felt this... helpless.”

“You’re not helpless,” he said firmly. “You’re just in a tough spot. But you’re strong enough to get through it.”

Elena forced a smile, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Thanks, Danny. I guess I’ll just... wait.”

“That’s all you can do for now,” Danny said, his tone comforting. “But remember, if you need anything, I’m here for you. Always.”

Elena nodded, grateful for his support. As he left the room, Elena let out a long sigh, staring at her phone, waiting for a reply that might never come. But she had done her part. Now, all she could do was wait and hope that Riley would find her way back.