The Space Between us

5

Chapter Five: The Park

After finishing the meal, Eden couldn't stand the silence of the house anymore. It pressed in on her, suffocating her. The walls, the empty rooms, the smell of stale food-it was all too much. Without another thought, she grabbed her jacket, slipped on her Converse, and quietly stepped out the door.

The walk to the park was a familiar ritual, one that she had made countless times over the years. It was her escape, her sanctuary. The park was the one place where the world didn't feel as heavy, where she could lose herself for a little while, letting the sound of leaves rustling in the wind drown out the noise in her head.

When she reached the park, she made her way to the large oak tree near the center. It was her favorite spot, the one place where she could sit in the shade, read her book, and forget about everything else. She set her bag down, pulled out her worn-out novel, and leaned back against the tree, closing her eyes for a moment to just breathe.

For a few minutes, Eden allowed herself to forget. The grief, the loneliness, the pressure-it all melted away as she settled into the quiet of the park.

She was just about to open her book when she heard footsteps approaching. At first, she thought it was just someone passing by, but the footsteps slowed as they neared her.

Eden opened her eyes, surprised to see Josh standing a few feet away, looking down at her.

She hadn't expected to see him here, of all places.

He seemed a little hesitant, as though unsure if he should approach. But after a moment, he took a few steps closer, his hands stuffed into his hoodie pockets.

"Hey," Josh said with a tentative smile, his voice low but warm.

Eden blinked, unsure of what to say. She wasn't used to people approaching her in this way-not like this, not here. But there was something different about him, something genuine in the way he looked at her, as if he wasn't afraid to just... be with her, without any expectations.

"Hi," she replied softly, offering a small smile of her own.

Josh hesitated again, glancing at the book in her hands. "You come here often?" he asked, the question light, but his eyes curious.

Eden nodded, not feeling the need to explain herself. "Yeah, it's my favorite place," she said, turning the book over in her hands, as if the simple action could calm her nerves.

"Mine too," Josh said with a slight chuckle, leaning against the tree a few feet away from her. He seemed comfortable, but there was still a quiet tension in the air.

Eden glanced up at him, studying his face. She hadn't really had the chance to talk to him much outside of the brief moments at school, but something about him felt... different. Not like the other people she had tried to get close to. There was a calmness in his presence that she couldn't explain, something that made her feel like it was okay to be herself, even if only for a moment.

"What are you reading?" Josh asked, his eyes drifting to the book in her hands again.

Eden hesitated for a moment, then shrugged. "Just some fiction... nothing special." She didn't think it was important, but she could tell he was genuinely interested.

Josh smiled, a relaxed, easy smile. "Fiction's always good. It's like... an escape, right?"

Eden met his gaze, and for the first time that day, something inside her loosened. She nodded slowly. "Exactly. It's nice to just... disappear for a little while."

Josh took a step closer, and Eden instinctively pulled her knees up to her chest, but she didn't mind him getting closer. Something about him made it feel... okay.

"I get that," he said, sitting down cross-legged next to her. "I come here to get away from... everything." His voice dropped slightly, as if the words were something he didn't usually share.

Eden tilted her head, looking at him curiously. "What do you mean?"

He glanced at her, meeting her eyes. "I don't know... sometimes, things just get... too much, you know?"

Eden's heart skipped a beat. She didn't know why, but hearing him say that-hearing him admit to the same things she had been feeling-felt like a weight was lifted from her shoulders. It was the first time all day that she didn't feel so alone.

"I know," she whispered, her voice soft, but there was an understanding there.

There was a long pause before Josh broke the silence again. "I'm Josh, by the way," he said, offering her a half smile. "I don't think we've actually introduced ourselves."

Eden blinked, caught off guard. She hadn't really thought about it. She had always just seen him at school, and that was enough.

"I'm Eden," she said quietly, smiling faintly back at him. "Nice to meet you, I guess."

Josh's smile grew wider, and it made Eden feel something stir in her chest. It wasn't anything big or dramatic, but it was enough to make her feel lighter than she had in a long time.

"I'm glad we met," he said. "It's nice to find someone who actually... gets it."

Eden wasn't sure why, but hearing that from him made something inside her soften. She didn't know if it was because of the way he said it, or the way he seemed to truly understand her, but it was the first time in a while that she felt like she wasn't just drifting through life alone.

"Yeah," Eden whispered, her voice barely above a breath. "It is."

For the first time in a long time, she felt like maybe-just maybe-she wasn't the only one lost in the world.