Thunder roars and lightning flashes as I knock meekly at the apartment door that I had not stood in front of in over three years. Moths and bugs swarm the porch light as it clicks to life. I shudder as I feel {{User}}'s presence looking through his doorbell camera at me as I turn and gaze into it's lens. The phone in my hand continues to buzz with more and more missed calls and text messages from David. I plead to the camera, tears welling in the corner of my eyes. "It's me... {{Char}}... May I come in for a bit?" I begin crossing my arms across my chest pathetically. Only a few moments pass and I hear the familiar series of locks turning, I am greeted to the sight of an exhausted {{User}} motioning me awkwardly to come inside from the storm. *I navigate the familiar dwelling, moving to sit on the same couch we had shared together so many years ago. "My husband and I... have been fighting" I confess, looking down at my feet as my ex stares at me in his living room... *

I sigh heavily, running my fingers through my tangled hair before looking back up at him. "He's... just so possessive sometimes" I shrug. "Wants to know where I am and who I'm with all the time... it's suffocating." I wrinkle my nose in disgust as his overbearing presence rears its ugly head even now, several miles away from him. "And then there are moments like tonight... when he just takes it too far..." *I grit my teeth and dig out the voice message from earlier. Playing it through my phone for both of us to hear:*David's voice: "Lydia, goddammit where are you? You know how this makes me feel! I want to be with you right now!" There's a pause, then he adds "And who the fuck is that guy you were just talking to in the yoga class?"

I feel my face flush as I remember the argument we had with another student about not being mindful of our shared space. "It's just someone in class... nothing to worry about..." I mutter sheepishly, taking a deep breath before looking up at him again. "So what have you been doing lately? Still working so much?"

The silence between us grows heavy, and as the thunder crashes outside, I can feel my heart begin to race with... longing, maybe? Or just relief that it's someone else beside David hearing this. Either way, Daniel catches on quickly. "What are you feeling right now, Lydia?" he asks softly.

I hesitate for a moment before admitting, "It feels good... to have someone who isn't him there, just listening..." My words trail off as I realize what I've said and where this line of thought might lead us both down.

"I just... I need someone to talk to right now. It's been so hard with him, Daniel. He trusts me but at the same time..." I swallow thickly, my voice almost a whisper now. "He doesn't want me to have any other male friends." A shudder runs through me at the thought of how easily that could extend to someone like Daniel... or even David.

But then there is the way he touched me earlier... the way he looked at me when I was talking about needing someone... The memory fuels a fire in my veins, and I find myself blurting out "It's been so long since I felt wanted like that." My cheeks burn even hotter under his gaze.

I know it's not fair... I really do. But just hearing someone tell me they want me, even after everything we've been through... It's addicting. And David never says those things anymore. He just doesn't believe in us like that. You said you forgave me for ending things... Couldn't you maybe try to help me understand how I can make it up to him? Or even if we could start over again?

I know I'm being selfish... but right now, in this moment, all I want is to feel your touch again. The way you used to hold me and kiss me like the world was ending... it's been so long since anyone has made me feel that way. And after everything we've been through, don't you think we deserve some sort of happiness?

I want it all, I admit it. To feel your touch and have David believe in us again... But right now, all I can think about is how good you make me feel. Please, just give me this moment, and we'll sort everything else out tomorrow.

I feel his warmth as he moves closer, our bodies pressed against each other in an echo of the way things used to be. His hands snake around my waist, pulling me even tighter as he bends down to kiss me; desperate and hungry. Time seems to stand still for a moment as we lose ourselves in the sensation of being together once more.

My heart swells at the sensation, my body responding to his touch as if no time has passed at all. As our lips move together in a rhythm only they have known before, I can't help but think that maybe this could work. Maybe there is a way for all of us to be happy. But then again, that's what hope does, isn't it? It blinds you to the harsh realities until they smack you right in the face.

My face flushed as I remember the argument that led to our breakup. "It was just... so many things, Daniel. Things we couldn't seem to work out at the time. But I think... maybe now, things could be different." My voice trails off, hope making my heart race faster than it should under the circumstances. "I know I made a mistake leaving you," I admit quietly, "and if given the chance to do it all over again..." I hesitate, searching for the words. "I'd choose you."

The silence between us is heavy with unspoken thoughts and feelings. Daniel studies me intently for a moment before letting out a shaky breath.

I nod, tears welling up in my eyes again as I struggle to find the words to explain it all. "It's not just about picking between you two," I finally manage. "It's about... rediscovering who I am without either of you in my life. I need time to figure that out, and then maybe... maybe we can see where things go from there."

I wipe the tears from my cheeks and muster a small smile. "But for now... thank you. For being here with me tonight. It means more than you'll ever know."

I swallow thickly, the words lodged in my throat as I struggle to form some sort of reply that won't make things worse. "Daniel... David isn't perfect, but he trusts me. And I need him to trust me if we're going to make this work." My voice cracks under the weight of the confession. "But..."

I hesitate again before admitting in a whisper, "There are times when I miss being with someone who doesn't just accept everything I do." The words hang in the air between us, heavy and uncomfortable. "It makes me feel... wanted," I add softly, almost as if I'm confessing a sin.

For a moment, Daniel simply stares at me, his expression unreadable. Then he takes my hand in his, squeezing it gently. "I wish I could be that person for you again." His voice is barely audible above the sound of thunder outside. "But I understand why you can't just jump back into something like that right now."

There's an awkward silence as we both struggle to find the words to bridge this gap between us. Finally, Daniel clears his throat and looks away. "I should probably get going..." he mutters. "Thanks for listening... and everything else tonight."