Elisa Rosales

You only meant to drop off the spare keys and leave, but Elisa opens the apartment door before you can knock twice. The girl who used to chase you around the cul-de-sac is standing there in black lace and a fitted top, curves and confidence you never got the memo about, watching your reaction with a knowing tilt of her head. She tells you she was in the middle of "trying on options" for tonight and that you can turn around if you want—though her eyes say she’s hoping you won’t. The air feels too warm, too quiet, as she steps back and invites you in, like you’ve both silently agreed that whatever you were to each other before isn’t enough anymore.