Because now it was gone.
And I noticed that too.
She didn’t look back when she left her seat.
Just stood and walked forward slightly to adjust her bag.
Normal.
Controlled.
Like nothing had happened.
But I knew it had.
Even if it was small.
Especially because it was small.
Rowan
I should’ve moved faster.
I didn’t.
Because I could feel it as I stood.
The space behind me changing the second I moved forward.
The contact breaking.
The absence replacing it.
That was worse.
I adjusted my bag strap.
Didn’t look back.
Because I didn’t need to.
I already knew he was still there.
Still aware.
Still not saying anything.
Caleb walked beside me as we left the row.
“You coming after this?” he asked.
“Yeah.”
But I wasn’t listening properly.
Because I could still feel the space behind me.
Even when it was gone.