Gary stood at the corner near his flat with his keys clenched in his hand, the metal biting slightly into his palm. The familiar front door loomed behind him, close enough to touch, promising safety, delay, and the comforting lie that everything could be dealt with later.

Later had always been Gary’s favourite strategy.

“I should probably…” he began, trailing off as his courage ran out before the sentence did.

She didn’t interrupt him. She didn’t rush to fill the silence or push him in any direction. She just waited, calm and steady, and that somehow made this harder than if she’d argued.

“I’m just not great with dentists,” Gary said finally, wincing as another dull pulse rolled through his jaw. “I know that sounds ridiculous given the situation, but I tend to panic. Chairs. Lights. People telling me things I should’ve done years ago.”

She nodded, unsurprised. “Most people aren’t great with dentists.”

“Yeah,” Gary said. “But most people don’t also have a long, proud history of ignoring problems until they become emergencies.”

He gestured vaguely at his face, immediately regretting the movement.

“I’m not saying I don’t trust you,” he added quickly. “I do. That’s actually the problem. This suddenly feels real. Like a proper decision instead of something I can joke my way through.”

She met his eyes. “I wouldn’t force you to do anything.”

That was it. That was the moment.

If she’d pushed, he could’ve resisted. If she’d judged him, he could’ve retreated. But this was entirely his choice, and that carried weight.

Gary looked at the door again. Then back at her.

“If I don’t do this now,” he said quietly, “I probably won’t ever. And I don’t think my jaw can survive my personality much longer.”

A faint smile tugged at her mouth.

“Alright,” Gary sighed. “But if I pass out, you’re carrying me.”

She laughed. “Deal.”

Something loosened in his chest. Fear, maybe. Or relief.

Either way, the decision was made.

Change your mind and go with her → Page 52

Panic, lie to yourself, and delay again → Page 66