Oh my....it's sad to see the stages prior to the ending of a rt - the feelings you try to suppress even though you know it has run its course, then the sudden clarity one day and then the decision - but dang Aaron's reaction was so cold/emotionless in fact - so telling...

Btw, thank you so much for your perceptive comment on my short story - seems like you are the only reader who quite got it (the longing part, I mean) 💙😊👍