The Distance Between Us
Love didn't always come softly.
Sometimes…
It came wrapped in fear.
Elara didn't notice when it started.
Maybe it was the way he came for her without hesitation.
Maybe it was the way he said her name—like it meant something.
Maybe it was the moment he told her to call him…
And he would come.
Whatever it was—
It stayed.
And now…
She felt it.
In the way her eyes searched for him in every room.
In the way her heart reacted whenever he was close.
In the way fear no longer felt like the only thing between them.
Elara was falling.
And that was dangerous.
Damian noticed.
Of course he did.
He noticed everything.
The way she looked at him.
The way she stayed close.
The way she didn't run anymore.
And something inside him responded.
Something unfamiliar.
Something he hadn't allowed himself to feel in a long time.
But instead of accepting it—
He shut it down.
Hard.
Because the past didn't let him forget.
Isabella's voice echoed in his mind.
"I've never loved you."
Arabella's laughter followed.
"I was just using you all along."
The betrayal.
The lies.
The way trust turned into weakness.
He remembered everything.
And just like that—
Fear replaced whatever he was starting to feel.
What if she's the same?
The thought stayed.
Growing.
Spreading.
So he did the only thing he knew how to do.
He pushed her away.
"Elara, stop following me."
His voice was cold.
Sharp.
She paused.
Just for a second.
"I wasn't—"
"Yes, you were."
The words cut through her.
But she didn't leave.
Not this time.
Days passed.
And it only got worse.
Every time she tried to get closer—
He stepped back.
Every time she spoke—
He shut her down.
"Stay out of my way."
"Don't involve yourself."
"Know your place."
The words hurt.
More than she expected.
Because this wasn't the man who told her to call his name.
This wasn't the man who came for her.
This was the Devil again.
Cold.
Distant.
Unreachable.
But even then—
She didn't stop.
Because something inside her refused to.
One evening, Lucas pulled her aside quietly.
Away from the others.
Away from him.
"You need to stop letting it get to you," Lucas said calmly.
Elara frowned slightly.
"He's pushing me away."
"I know."
"Then why?"
Lucas studied her for a moment.
"Because he likes you."
Elara blinked.
Confused.
"That doesn't make sense."
"Not in your world," Lucas replied.
A pause.
"In his… it does."
Elara shook her head slightly.
"Why would he act like this if he feels something?"
Lucas exhaled quietly.
"That's his to tell."
A pause.
Then—
"He's been through a lot."
Those words carried weight.
Heavy.
Unspoken.
Elara looked down slightly, her thoughts spinning.
"…so I just keep trying?"
Lucas gave a small nod.
"If you love him… don't give up."
Then he stepped away.
Leaving her alone with those words.
That night—
Elara stood outside Damian's door again.
Her heart beating slowly.
Steady.
Determined.
She raised her hand.
Knocked.
"Come in."
She stepped inside.
Damian didn't look up at first.
Focused on something on the table.
"What do you want?" he asked coldly.
Elara swallowed slightly.
Then stepped closer.
"I'm not leaving."
That made him stop.
Slowly—
He looked up.
Their eyes met.
Tension filled the room instantly.
"You don't get to decide that," he said.
Elara's voice didn't shake this time.
"I already did."
Silence.
Because this—
This was new.
She wasn't afraid.
Not the same way anymore.
And that made her dangerous.
"You're making a mistake," Damian said quietly.
Elara took another step closer.
"Then let me."
A pause.
Her voice softened slightly.
"But don't push me away like I'm nothing."
That hit.
Not visibly.
But deeply.
Because she wasn't nothing.
And that was exactly the problem.
Damian looked at her for a long moment.
Then turned away.
"Leave."
One word.
But it didn't carry the same weight anymore.
Because this time—
She didn't move.
And for the first time in a long time…
Damian didn't know what to do next.
Because pushing her away—
Was starting to feel harder than letting her stay.