Maya sat in her apartment, the silence around her both comforting and oppressive. The leave from work had left her with too much time to think—time she wasn’t sure she wanted. She stared at her phone, contemplating whether to call her parents and explain the situation. But how could she tell them the truth without worrying them? They were already skeptical about her relationship with Alex, and admitting to a mental health break might only deepen their concerns.

After a long moment, Maya decided to keep the truth to herself. She dialed her mother’s number, forcing a lightness into her voice as she spoke.

"Hi, Mom! How’s everything?" Maya asked, trying to sound as normal as possible.

"Maya! We’ve missed hearing from you," her mother replied warmly. "How’s work going? You sound a bit tired."

Maya hesitated, her heart racing. She had to think quickly. "Oh, work’s fine, just the usual grind. Actually, I’ve decided to take a short break—nothing serious, just a little vacation time. I figured it was a good opportunity to recharge."

Her mother’s voice softened with concern. "A break? Are you sure everything is okay, honey? You’ve been working so hard. Is there something you’re not telling us?"

Maya swallowed, forcing a laugh to mask her unease. "I promise, everything’s fine, Mom. I’ve just been feeling a bit worn out, so I thought some time off would do me good. I might even go on a little trip with Alex, just to relax and get away from the city for a bit."

There was a brief pause before her mother replied. "Well, if you think that’s what you need, then it sounds like a good idea. Just promise you’ll take care of yourself, okay?"

"I will, Mom. Don’t worry," Maya said, relieved that the conversation hadn’t delved deeper. "I’ll call you again soon."

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After hanging up, Maya exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of the lie settle over her. She hated deceiving her parents, but the truth felt too complicated and raw to share.

Later that day, as she was tidying up her apartment, her phone buzzed with a text from Dan, one of her coworkers. Maya froze as she read the message: "Hey, Maya. Just wanted to let you know I ran into Alex and mentioned your leave. Hope you're doing okay. Let me know if you need anything."

Maya’s stomach dropped. She hadn’t told Alex about her work leave yet, wanting to keep the details vague until she figured things out. Now, she had no choice but to face the conversation head-on.

As if on cue, there was a knock at her door. Maya opened it to find Alex standing there, concern etched into his features.

"Maya," Alex began, his voice full of worry, "Dan told me about your leave from work. What’s going on? Why didn’t you tell me?"

Maya bit her lip, trying to find the right words. "I didn’t want to worry you," she admitted, stepping aside to let him in. "It’s just been… a lot lately, and I thought some time off would help me clear my head."

Alex frowned, searching her eyes. "You know you can talk to me about anything, right? If something’s bothering you, I want to be there for you. But you’ve been so distant lately, Maya. Is this about Jason?"

Maya’s heart skipped a beat at the mention of Jason’s name. She had been trying so hard to push thoughts of him away, but here they were, intruding on her life once again. She knew she had to be honest with Alex, at least partially.

"It’s not just about Jason," Maya said, her voice trembling slightly. "It’s everything. Work, life, the pressure I’ve been putting on myself. And yes, Jason brought up some old feelings, but that’s all they are—old feelings. I’m committed to you, Alex. I want to move forward with you, not dwell on the past."

Alex’s expression softened, but there was still a trace of concern in his eyes. "I believe you, Maya. But if you’re feeling this overwhelmed, maybe it’s a sign we need to take a step back and figure things out. I just want you to be okay."

Maya nodded, a sudden idea forming in her mind. "You’re right. And that’s why I think we should go on a vacation together. Get away from all of this—work, the city, everything. Just you and me. I need to focus on us, on our relationship. Maybe if we have some time alone, I can finally get Jason out of my head completely."

Alex hesitated, considering her suggestion. "A vacation could be good for us," he said slowly. "But I don’t want you to feel like you have to do this just for me. If you need time alone to process everything, I’ll understand."

Maya shook her head, her resolve firming. "No, Alex. I want to do this with you. I need to be with you, to remind myself of why I chose you. Please, let’s do this together."

Alex studied her for a moment, then nodded. "Okay, Maya. Let’s do it. We’ll take some time for ourselves, away from everything. Maybe it’s exactly what we need."

A wave of relief washed over Maya as Alex pulled her into a comforting embrace. For the first time in days, she felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe this vacation would help her find the clarity she so desperately needed. Maybe it would allow her to finally leave the past where it belonged and fully commit to the future she wanted with Alex.