The more seconds tick by the more the walls feel like they are closing in around me.

“Where have you been?” Owen asks.

His voice is deep but not slurred.

He looks tired and worn out, like he hasn’t slept for days.

His skin is sallow, gray even. There are big black circles under his eyes.

“I rented another place,” I say. “I needed some space.”

“Are you ever coming back?”

“No,” I say. I’m tempted to add, “I don’t think so,” but I don’t.

I don’t want to give him anymore hope than absolutely necessary.

I am not coming back here and I’m not going to live with him.

“Are you back with Nicholas?” he asks.

I furrow my brow. Where is this coming from?

“No, of course not. Nicholas is gone. I have no idea where he is.”

“Yeah, right,” he says under his breath.

I don’t care that he doesn’t believe me. I’m tired of having this fight over and over again.

“So, what have you been doing there at your new place?” Owen asks, leaning against the doorframe, physically creating a barrier between me and the exit.

“I don’t know. Hiking, swimming, reading. What have you been doing?” I leave the topic of my mother out on purpose.

“Drinking,” he says, laughing.

“Are you sure that’s such a good idea?”

“No, of course not. But who says that living is such a good idea?”

I shake my head.

I don’t know what else I can do for him.

I try to get past him but he stops me.

He puts his arm out, blocking the door.

“I’m leaving,” I say, pushing past him.

“I’m sorry, okay!” he yells after me. “I’m sorry I did that, but I love you.”

I don’t turn around.

He wants me to engage and that’s the last thing I want.

I head down the long hallway and turn left where it splits off. The kitchen is to the right and the front door is to the left.

“I love you!” Owen yells after me. “Why won’t you believe me?”

“I do believe you but I don’t love you back,” I say, grabbing the door handle.

As soon as I turn it, Owen pounces over and pushes it shut.

We are face-to-face.

We’re so close I can feel his breath on me.

“You just don’t want to move in because you’re going to see Nicholas again, huh?” he asks.

His eyes are wild and out of control.

“I don’t know why you’re obsessed with him. We’re not together anymore.”

“You miss him,” Owen says in an accusatory tone.

“Of course, I miss him. I thought we would be together forever. So what? Life happens, right?”

I take a few steps away from him into the living room, hoping that he will follow me there.