A Day in the Life of Amy

Mark had chosen a sleek Italian restaurant downtown for their date, all candlelight and low jazz. Amy slipped into the booth across from him, smiling politely as he handed her a glass of red wine.

“You look incredible,” Mark said, his eyes tracing over her in a way that once made her feel adored. Tonight, it made her restless.

“Thanks,” Amy replied, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. She tried to focus on him, on the comfortable charm he always brought to the table. But her mind flickered back to Fiona’s studio—the way the light had wrapped around her skin, the intensity in Fiona’s eyes.

“So,” Mark said after a pause, “what’s new with you? You’ve seemed… distracted lately.”

The words landed like a weight. Amy laughed lightly, too quickly. “Distracted? No, just—busy. You know how it is.”

Mark leaned back, studying her. “Busy with what, exactly? You don’t work. You don’t have school. What’s keeping you so… occupied?”

Amy’s stomach tightened. She reached for her glass, stalling. “I’ve been… exploring some new things. Trying to figure myself out.”

Mark arched a brow. “New things, huh? Like what?”

She hesitated. She could almost hear Fiona’s voice in her head: Be honest—with him, and with me.

“Photography,” Amy said finally. It wasn’t a lie. Not entirely. “I’ve been helping someone with creative projects. It’s been… exciting.”

Mark’s jaw tightened, just slightly. “Someone?”

Amy nodded. “A friend I met recently. She’s talented, and she thinks I might be good at modeling.”

The silence stretched, heavier than before. Mark set his glass down carefully. “She?”

Amy’s heart pounded. She forced a smile, as if daring him to press further. “Yeah. Fiona. She’s amazing at what she does.”

Mark’s gaze sharpened, though his voice stayed calm. “And how amazing do you think she is?”

The question cut deeper than she expected. For a moment, Amy couldn’t find her words.

Mark leaned in, lowering his voice. “Look, Amy… I like you. A lot. But I can tell something’s changed. You’re here with me, but your head is somewhere else. With someone else.”

Amy swallowed hard, her throat dry. She hated that he was right.

Mark sighed, his expression softening but laced with unease. “If there’s something I should know, now’s the time to say it.”

Amy stared at him, torn between comfort and the fire that had been lit inside her with Fiona. She wasn’t ready to confess—but she also wasn’t sure she could keep pretending.

Outside the window, the city lights blurred, just like her thoughts.

Two worlds. Two people. And now, the walls between them were beginning to crack.