Mia knew she had to be honest with herself, and with Ethan. She couldn't continue living a lie, especially not with Maya, whose laughter echoed in her mind like a haunting melody.



She met Ethan at their favorite cafe, the aroma of coffee filling her with a sense of bittersweet nostalgia. Mia took a deep breath, meeting Ethan's gaze. His eyes were filled with concern, but she could see a flicker of sadness beneath the surface.



"I need to be honest with you," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "I've been trying to figure things out, and I've realized that I'm not who I thought I was. I'm not straight."



Ethan's face fell, the color draining from his cheeks.



"I'm so sorry," she continued, her voice breaking. "I know this is going to hurt, and I'm sorry for hurting you."



Ethan's eyes welled up with tears.



"It's okay," he said, his voice hoarse. "I understand."



But even though he tried to sound strong, Mia could see the pain etched in his face. She felt a surge of regret, knowing that she had broken his heart.



"I cared about you," he said, his voice filled with emotion. "But I guess things just weren't meant to be."



He looked at her for a moment, his eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and understanding. Then he smiled sadly. "I hope you find what you're looking for."



He got up from the table, his face pale, and walked out of the cafe, leaving Mia alone with her guilt and her uncertainty.