Chapter Thirty-Three

DAN

I didn’t want to leave without Kallen, but what else was I supposed to do?

He told me to go, so I did.

I’m trying to be understanding of everything with his family. Clearly, he has unresolved trauma that he doesn’t seem to be addressing.

But that understanding is overtaken by anger. We had a code word, and if he can’t stick to promises, how can I trust him in any sort of relationship?

Moisture builds in my eyes when I descend the range, on route to Brisbane. Should I have tried harder to get him to come with me? Tell him I’m not leaving him there. Now, he’s stuck with those people. But he made his choice. Fuck!

A voice in my head tells me sternly, Kallen needs to work this out on his own.

When I get back to Brisbane, I take the elevator up to mine and Kallen’s floor, remembering the first time we met, which feels like much longer than a month ago. I think back to our trip to Noosa – how comfortable things started feeling with him.

At my apartment door, I turn and look at his, directly across from mine. His apartment, where he should be, not in Toowoomba. I think about texting him to ask if he’s okay, but he likely doesn’t want to talk to me right now.

He told me to go, so that’s what I need to do.

But I can’t go for long – we have work on Monday.

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