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Ryder's fingers hesitated before he finally pressed the familiar sequence of numbers that would connect him to Isobel.
"Hey, Isobel," his voice wavered slightly.
"Hey! How are you holding up? How was your session?"
Ryder exhaled a heavy sigh. "That's actually what I need to talk to you about. Look, I can't go through with our plans tonight."
There was a brief silence on the line. "Oh? Is everything okay?" inquired Isobel, her concern audible.
"Yeah," Ryder muttered, collapsing onto his sofa. "It's just…I'm in the middle of working through my issues, and it turns out there are some big changes I need to make."
"What kind of changes?" she prodded gently.
"Well, for starters, I need to avoid the club scene for some time… and distance myself from you," Ryder confessed, his heart sinking.
The silence stretched on until Ryder questioned if the line had dropped. "Isobel? Are you still with me?"
"I'm here," came her soft reply.
Ryder rubbed his forehead, mustering the courage to explain further. "My therapist outlined a bunch of steps for me and one critical part is breaking my habit of leaning on relationships as an emotional crutch. I know I have to stay away from you to break the cycle. It's going to hurt, but it's not forever – just until I can think more clearly."
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Isobel's response was understanding and empathetic. "I get it, Ryder, and whatever helps your healing process – I support that. If you need space, then that’s what I'll give you."
"Thanks for being so understanding," he said, relief flooding through him. "Maybe when things are more stable we can gradually do simple stuff again, like grabbing coffee or a stroll in the park?"
"That would be lovely," Isobel agreed warmly.
"I'd better get off now; there's still work waiting for me."
There was a pause before she added softly, "Ryder? Just know…I'll be sending thoughts and prayers your way."
Ryder held onto the silence that followed her words.
"Farewell then," she murmured eventually.
"Goodbye, Isobel." With that final exchange, he ended the call and set his phone down on the table next to him with a sense of finality. He leaned back against the cushions and let out a breath he hadn't realized he’d been holding. The echo of her last words lingered – “I’ll be praying for you,” spoken with such sincerity that it disturbed a long-dormant contemplation within him about faith and providence since losing his father – thoughts he had abandoned long ago when confronted with divine silence at his deepest moment of loss.
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Isobel ended the call and glanced at Bella Rose, her expression unreadable.
"Something's off, Isobel?"
"Ryder just rang. He's decided we should take a break."
"No way, why?" Bella Rose paused her work on the saddle's cinch, focusing entirely on Isobel.
Hesitantly, Isobel shared Ryder's reasons with her.
"Wow. He seems like he's really making an effort."
"He really is." Isobel's lips curved into a tentative smile. "It'll be tough not having him around, but ultimately, I want what's best for him."
Rose chimed in with a grin, "Well then, looks like it's up to us to fill your days with some extra time in the saddle." She threw a reassuring smile at Isobel before turning back to her task.