What Was Always There
Working in the same place made it harder to ignore things.
Anna noticed it in small moments. The way Sid waited for her after meetings. The way he remembered how she liked her coffee. The way his eyes softened when she talked about her designs, even when she was unsure of herself.
Sid noticed it too. How Anna stayed back late when deadlines piled up. How she pretended to be strong, even when she was tired. How her presence made long workdays feel lighter without him trying.
One evening, they walked out of the office together after a long day. The building was quieter than usual, most people already gone. Outside, the city lights had just started to glow.
"You look exhausted," Sid said.
Anna smiled weakly. "I am. But I don't want to go home yet."
He nodded. "Me neither."
They walked without a clear direction, letting the silence settle between them. It wasn't uncomfortable. It felt heavy, like something was waiting to be said.
"Do you ever think about college?" Anna asked suddenly.
"All the time," Sid replied. "Especially the things we never talked about."
Her steps slowed.
"Like what?" she asked, though she already knew.
Sid stopped walking. Anna turned to face him.
"Like us," he said quietly.
Her heart started racing. She opened her mouth, then closed it again.
"I didn't know if I should say anything back then," he continued. "I didn't want to lose what we had."
Anna swallowed. "I felt the same."
They stood there, the noise of the city fading into the background.
"I care about you," Sid said. "I always have. More than just a friend."
Anna felt warmth spread through her chest. "You should know… I care about you too."
It wasn't dramatic. There were no promises. Just truth.
They didn't kiss. They didn't rush into anything. They just stood closer than before, letting the moment sink in.
For a while, everything felt right.
But life didn't slow down for feelings.
As days passed, work pressure increased. Sid became quieter, more focused. He stayed late often, his phone silent during breaks. Anna noticed, but she didn't ask at first.
One evening, she finally did.
"You've been distant," she said gently.
Sid looked tired. "I'm just dealing with some things."
"What things?" she asked.
He hesitated. "Work. Family. It's complicated."
She nodded, but uncertainty settled in her chest. She wanted to understand, but she didn't want to push.
Small misunderstandings followed. Missed calls. Short replies. Moments where words felt wrong.
Anna wondered if she had imagined everything.
Sid wondered if he was pulling her into a life she didn't deserve.
Neither of them spoke openly.
And silence, once comfortable, began to hurt.
As Anna sat alone one night, staring at unfinished designs, the question returned again, heavier than before.
Do I ever really know you?