By the time Vanessa parks outside his building, her stomach is in knots. For a moment, she just sits there, staring at his front door from the safety of her car. You have to do this. Just get it over with. Just go inside. Just tell him the truth.
Finally, she forces herself to move, stepping out of the car and walking up to his apartment. Her heart pounds with every step. Each step toward his door feels heavier than the last. Before she can knock, the door swings open and Richard greets her with a quick, gentle kiss on the lips.
"Hey," he says softly, stepping back to let her in.
Vanessa's breath catches for a moment. It's the kind of greeting that feels warm and familiar, and for a brief second, she almost forgets the weight of what she has to do. But the moment passes quickly as the reality of the conversation she's about to have floods back.
"Hey," she replies, her voice tight.
