We almost were

Title: “We Almost Were”

1. It started on a Wednesday

She was always a little late. Not late-late, just enough to be noticed.

Her name was Ellie, and she worked two desks over in the same office. Not on my team, not my responsibility—but somehow, she became my daily distraction. Every lunch break, we’d “coincidentally” end up in the same room. First silence, then coffee, then conversation.

She was different. Not because she said anything profound, but because she actually listened. And one day, somewhere between the printer and the coffee machine, I realized I missed her when she wasn’t there.

2. The connection

A few weeks in, we made plans outside of work.

Not a date—just drinks “because we got along well.”

It was a Thursday night, and of course it was raining.

Her hair was wet when she walked in, and she smiled like she had no idea how good she looked.

We talked for hours.

About music, family, how she hated mornings and loved drifting into the night without a plan.

It felt easy. Familiar. Like I’d known her longer than I had.

She said, “You’re different. You don’t judge so quickly.”

I didn’t answer. I was too busy hoping this was the start of something.

3. The shift

After that night, everything got deeper—but not physical.

It was the little things.

Her hand on my arm when she laughed.

Late-night texts.

The “are you still up?” kind.

And just when I started to believe this was real, she began to pull back.

Slower replies.

Excuses like “work’s been crazy” or “I’m in my head today.”

Then she sent this:

“I don’t think I’m ready for anything right now.”

I was sitting on my couch, phone in hand, some playlist playing songs that suddenly hit too hard.

I typed, “I get it, it’s okay.”

But I didn’t mean it.

4. The after

At work, we pretended nothing had happened.

Just coffee. Just tasks.

As if we hadn’t almost built something worth keeping.

Sometimes our eyes would meet. Briefly.

Not awkward.

More like…

regret.

5. And now?

I don’t know if it was love.

But it was something.

And honestly?

Sometimes almost hurts more than never.