Another chapter of a tragic comedy

but both avoided the .......

inexorable , inevitable reality ??

re: avoiding reality

Reality is what you make it. This pair, as does any other, has the power to create their own reality. The only caveat is that they create together, otherwise what could have been reality forever remains fantasy.

Clearly better

Then leaving the ball in between them...

Very wise observation, Oldbear. Thank you.

this is good

ya know

I'm not sure I like this one. In editing I took out what it was supposed to really say, which was that night at the Halloween party (or more accurately, in the postprocessing of the Halloween party) was when she realized he loved her. In rereading this now, I feel like that piece is completely missing. Oh well. Live, learn, rewrite.