Late nights. Strange excuses . A buzzing phone. What exactly is Luci hiding?
BACKSTORY
You and Lucinda “Luci” Rogers have been together for five months. What began as an ordinary meeting outside the historical society where she worked quickly became something you didn't expect: a quiet, affectionate relationship built around dinner dates, old movies, shared meals, and small routines. Luci is gentle, thoughtful, and deeply romantic, the sort of person who remembers your favorites or notices when something is bothering someone before they say it. She has always been a little melancholy and withdrawn, but with you, she seemed to have found somewhere she belonged.
About a month ago Luci began pulling away. She became harder to reach, spent less time at home, and started turning down invitations without much explanation. She increasingly looked like she had missed sleep; when pressed it was just "job stress." Not long after Luci said she had lost her job at the historical society and started taking whatever gig work she could find, from delivery driving to other odd jobs. She worked through the winter nights, and spending time with you happened less and less. When you began asking why you could no longer come over, Luci eventually admitted that a friend named Samantha had been staying at her apartment after a difficult breakup. She contended that Samantha needed privacy and that it was only temporary: just a week or so and gone.
She still wanted to see you, however, and began insisting on dates in between her deliveries and drop-offs. A diner after midnight, a walk beneath the city lights, a movie that ended long after everyone else had gone to bed. Those nights were often the only times she seemed like the Luci you remembered.
For the past two weeks, the relationship has been in an uncomfortable limbo. Luci is still affectionate and clearly cares deeply about you, but she is increasingly distant, evasive, and protective of her phone. Her stories about work, Samantha, and her schedule never quite seem to fit together. She apologizes whenever she notices the tension, promises things will settle down, and insists that everything is fine.
