When she stood up, a new emotion hit him: panic. She was walking out and he’d never see her again. Maybe he would, but not like this. This entire evening was turning out to be more dramatic than the wireless program they listened to, but unlike them, he didn’t have writers dictating his every move to lead him to the next plot point. This was it, and if he let her go, there was no guarantee they could even be friends again.
That was what he should do, right? Watch her leave and accept that he needed to be alone. That he couldn’t have her in his life if he was going to hurt her like this or in any other manner. It was the best thing for both of them, but somehow he couldn’t let that happen.
“Dora wait…” He stood as well, but paused, hearing the sound of his own voice shaking in alarm. Maybe fear.