Ainsley opened her front door and took a deep breath. She walked forward a few feet. The weather was nicer than she had expected. She turned around and went back inside. She grabbed her shoes, phone, and keys before heading out to take a walk.

She hadn’t got very far when she heard someone call her name. Ainsley knew the voice immediately. It was her neighbor, Valin. She turned around and he jogged over to talk to her.

“What are you doing?”

“Taking a walk,” she smiled.

“By yourself?” He asked, “Can I join you?”

“Sure,” she nodded.

“Let me lock up my house.” Valin ran over to his front door and locked it. Then he ran back to the sidewalk where Ainsley waited for him.

“I still don’t know why you like taking walks by yourself,” he said.

“I still don’t know why you don’t,” she replied.

“It’s just boring.”

“But you can still enjoy nature when you walk alone. You can listen to music and just let all your thoughts process.”

“Well,” he answered, “a good way to let your thoughts process is to speak them.”

“You want to speak your thoughts to me?” Ainsley asked, raising her eyebrows. She was sure he didn’t.

Valin didn’t respond immediately, but when he did he said, “Actually, yes.”

Ainsley didn’t like the sound in his voice. It made her heart beat quickly. She felt her face grow warm. _Was this a bad idea? Why did she let him come along? _

“Ok…?” She questioned.

“We’re friends, right? Pretty good friends, I’d say. But what if we could be more than friends?”

“Valin,” she said quietly. “You know…”

But he cut her off, “We really enjoy each others company. I think you’re the nicest woman I’ve ever met. And whether or not you admit it, I know you think I’m attractive.”

He was right. Ainsley did enjoy his company and she did think he was very attractive. He had handsome hair and a cute smile and he often made her laugh. She was flattered by his feelings for her and she hated to disappoint him, but she knew she couldn’t feel the same way.

“You know it could never work.” She told Valin. “We have have very different values. We have opposite views about important things. The most important things. You are my friend, but nothing more.” She felt pain for him with every word she said.

“Is this because of _him_?” Valin asked, frustration creeping into his voice.

Ainsley didn’t have to ask who Valin meant by “_him_.”

She replied, “I love him and he loves me. More than you could know.”

“But _I_ love you,” Valin protested.

“I’m sorry Valin,” Ainsley’s eyes filled with tears. “I wish you could understand.”

She paused, so he could say something, but he didn’t.

“Well, I think maybe I should just go home,” she turned and walked the other direction.

Valin kept going. Walking alone.